Plesanton Unified School District Goes Solar

PUSD Celebrates Sustainable Efforts with E–Fair, April 23

April 23, 2008 (Pleasanton, CA) – In celebration of Pleasanton Unified School District's groundbreaking efforts to bring California schools closer to a sustainable future, PUSD and partners will host a first–ever event – eFair Pleasanton. The “e” in eFair stands for two interrelated concepts: energy and environment.

The theme for eFair Pleasanton is “Flip That Switch,” an allusion to energy conservation as well as a recent historic event. On January 23, 2008 a lever was pulled at a Pleasanton school, activating the first “solar school district” of scale* in California.

eFair Pleasanton will offer much more than just hurrahs, however. It will be highly educational, with learning opportunities for all ages. The centerpiece of the fair will be student-operated exhibits. These exhibitors will teach both young and old how to reduce their carbon footprint and, in many cases, to save money at the same time. They will also showcase Pleasanton’s nationally acclaimed environmental education practices.

eFair will feature dozens of exhibits that highlight the corporate, government, non-profit and education partners that helped Pleasanton to write this page in California history. Major corporate partners include Honeywell and SPG Solar who worked together to install a 600 kW photovoltaic system that is linked to seven school sites. The system, which generates enough electricity to illuminate nearly 1000 classrooms, is the product of an innovative agreement between Honeywell Corporation, PUSD and PG&E, another key partner. This agreement, which is perhaps even more significant than the solar arrays themselves, is called a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). PUSD and Honeywell have developed a PPA that has the potential to redefine the concept of “utility company.” Key features of this are:

Pleasanton will save over $125,000 per year on utility costs, money that will be redirected into the instructional program. Most important, this is a highly replicable model, one that paves the way for future sustainable endeavors.

While saving money and improving the environment are factors that drive the concept of eFair Pleasanton, education is at the heart of the event. In the words of California Energy Commission Chair, Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, “These are great accomplishments by themselves (solar & PPA), but Pleasanton has taken the additional step of promoting a ‘green’ culture and educating its students about energy in the classroom. The district is a wonderful model for others.” Recently, CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), the planet’s largest commercial real estate service, entered into a partnership with PUSD to help further the replication of the “Pleasanton model.”

Those attending eFair will learn how Pleasanton schools reach out across the planet to promote green practices. Attendees will be treated to a drum and dance performance (audience participation optional) by representatives of our “adopted community” in Liberia, Africa. We invite all members of the community to join us on Wednesday, April 23, from 6pm-8pm at the Hart Middle School Gymnasium in Pleasanton.

A press conference will held at 5pm in the gym, preceding eFair. It will include PUSD staff and students, along with all of our corporate, government and non-profit partners. For information, contact Bill Radulovich @ bradulovich@pleasanton.k12.ca.us or 925-766-4529.

*over 50 kW capacity

About SPG Solar, Inc.
With full service facilities in Novato, Windsor, Oceanside, Vacaville, and Oroville, California, SPG Solar, Inc. is the industry's leading integrated developer, designer, and installer of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for homes, schools, businesses, agriculture and large-scale commercial and government facilities. SPG Solar has built over 1,000 solar PV systems in California alone including Copeland Creek Senior Affordable Housing, Fireside Affordable Housing, Oakland Scottish Rite, Throckmorton Ridge Fire Station, and Import Tile. SPG Solar is committed to building the highest-performing solar PV systems with the highest return on investment.