Palmdale School District to Install Solar at 18 Schools

Los Amigos School was the host site for Palmdale School District’s ribbon-cutting celebration today for a solar power system that is being installed at 18 of the district’s 24 schools.  Civic officials and business leaders were on-hand to commend school district officials on their foresight and congratulate them on the phase one completion of their green initiative.

Through a public-private partnership with the Palmdale School District (PSD), PsomasFMG is providing a turnkey solar solution.  The company arranged for project financing free of upfront costs to the school district, and is managing the installation of the three-phase, 5.873-MW project.  The solar system features PV panels mounted atop carport structures.  Eight of 18 sites are installed, and all are scheduled to be fully operational by the spring of 2012.  Each site will be less than 1 MW.

“Today is a momentous step for the Palmdale School District as we celebrate the implementation of our vision for energy independence,” said Roger Gallizzi, superintendent.  “The school district’s solar initiative will provide for a cleaner, greener future that will reduce our carbon footprint.”

Palmdale School District Trustee Jeff Ferrin added, PSD’s green initiative will also provide long-term energy savings that can be redirected to fund student programs and extracurricular activities.”

The solar power installation is engineered to produce green electricity for the PSD, which will realize numerous benefits from its initiative to achieve energy independence.  In addition to substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the installation will save the PSD millions of dollars over the term of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).  The solar project will provide more than 80 percent of the school district’s electrical needs, while the PPA will lock in stable energy costs and help to reduce its expenditures on electricity.  Southern California Edison will supplement the school district’s remaining energy requirements.  Finally, the project will provide shade for school site parking lots.

“The Palmdale School District project we are celebrating today represents another successful example of the PsomasFMG development model for institutional clients that are faced with state-mandated budget cuts and have an urgent desire to reduce energy costs,” said Paul Mikos, executive vice president.  “Our company has the ability to virtually provide 100 percent project financing for institutional and government clients that are seeking energy independence within a clean energy environment.”

The solar project features an installation of 25,536 PV panels that are mounted atop steel-frame canopies and provide shaded parking for 1,625 vehicles.  Schools that will be generating solar power include the Aerospace Academy, Barrel Springs, Buena Vista, Chaparral, Cimarron, Desert Rose, Desert Willow, Golden Poppy, Joshua Hills, Juniper, Los Amigos, Ocotillo, Palm Tree, Palmdale Learning Plaza, Quail Valley, Shadow Hills, Summerwind and Tumbleweed.

Recently recognized by the California Environmental Protection Agency for its exemplary and innovative green solutions, PsomasFMG is underway on several turnkey installations that will generate up to 20 MW of green energy for school districts and public agencies.

Earlier this year, the fast-growing developer completed work on a $52-million, 10-site, 9.6-MWproject for the Antelope Valley Union High School District that is currently the largest school-based solar power system to date in the United States.  This fall, the company will begin construction on several new projects totaling an additional 10 megawatts, including a $20-million, 3.6 megawatt solar power installation at six sites in Orange County for the County of Orange.