REC Solar Implements Solar Energy Solutions at More Than 100 California School Districts
June 18, 2019 | San Luis Obispo, CA for immediate release
Pleasanton Unified School District is the latest education sector customer to work with REC Solar to deploy onsite solar plus storage solutions
Installation illustrates Education market need to control peak demand and lower costs that is spurring 13 fold growth of energy storage market overall
REC Solar, a subsidiary of Duke Energy Renewables, which is a commercial business unit of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), has partnered with Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) in Pleasanton, California to utilize solar plus energy storage solutions that cut emissions and energy costs.
Pleasanton Unified, which is a public primary and secondary education school district located east of San Francisco, is the latest installation at more than 100 districts and schools where REC Solar has implemented clean energy generation and storage solutions.
“Pleasanton Unified is a great example of US education market’s increasing desire to tap on-site solar generation combined with energy storage,” said Matt Walz, CEO REC Solar.“By choosing solar plus storage, the district will further control costs under new Time of Use rates, reduce demand charges and cut emissions during peak hours when the electric grid is stressed by high demand.”
REC Solar will install 1 megawatt (MW) of solar carports and a 660 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery energy storage system at Pleasanton Unified’s Amador Valley High School.. The investment is projected to save the district more than $2.2 million over the 25-year lifetime of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which will be financed by Duke Energy Renewables.
According to Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, a leading energy research and consultancy firm, PUSD is an example of why education is one of the sectors driving 13-fold growth in energy storage globally by 2024.
“Education services is the largest subsegment of C&I customers today,” said Brett Simon senior storage analyst at Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. “School boards and universities make ideal customers for storage developers: They are willing to accept longer payback periods compared to private-sector customers, have multiple buildings to allow for many deployments from a single contract, and usually have needs for bill reduction and resilience.”
“For many years it has been our goal to educate global citizens while focusing on projects that improve health and well-being of our students, staff and community,” said David Haglund, Ed.D and PUSD Superintendent. “As cutting emissions is crucial to our global future, our project to install solar generation plus battery storage will benefit our students for decades.”
PUSD is also re-configuring the parking lot at the school to maximize performance of the solar arrays while also enhancing the lot’s accessibility and safety features. The new solar arrays will provide up to 97 percent of the high school’s current energy use and greenhouse gas emissions elimination. Students will also have access to REC Solar’s GreenPowerMonitor tool and data for hands-on learning opportunities.
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About REC Solar
REC Solar has helped more than 700 commercial, public sector and utility-scale solar customers think differently about energy since its founding in 1997. REC Solar offers all expert design, engineering, financing, operations and maintenance services in-house, allowing for a simple customer experience. Getting solar, storage, and microgrid proposals is easy with REC Solar.
About Duke Energy Renewables
Duke Energy Renewables, a nonregulated unit of Duke Energy, operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., with a total electric capacity of 3,000 megawatts. The power is sold to electric utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers. The unit also operates energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, in addition to Duke Energy Renewables’ capacity. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
About Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD)
Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) serves nearly 15,000 students in 15 schools (9 Elementary Schools, 3 Middle Schools, 2 Comprehensive High Schools, 1 Continuation High School). Our mission is simple: Our students will make a better world. For more information, visit our website: https://www.pleasantonusd.net/ or visit us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
