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MARIN’S BACICH SCHOOL GOES GREEN THANKS TO COMMUNITY BOND

SPG Solar, Inc.’s 155 Kilowatt PV Solar System Supplies All Electricity

SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. (September 22, 2005) — SPG Solar, Inc. (SPG) and the Kentfield School District are dedicating a 155 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the elementary school campus that provides 100% of its electric needs. The PV system is providing electrical power for the school’s classrooms, common areas, library and administrative offices, as well as for the school grounds.

“This has been a great project, with tremendous participation by the school district administration, parents, kids and the community that passed a bond measure to pay for the system,” said Dan Thompson, President of SPG Solar, Inc. “Electricity costs have been an escalating part of the school’s budget, with no control in sight. We are very happy to have been able to design a system that maintains the attractiveness of the campus, supplies safe, clean and reliable energy and, at the same time, generates a surplus of electricity that will be sold back to the utility company for a credit. This community is very pro-solar, so working with the school district and board was a pleasure.”

SPG designed and built the solar PV system to provide optimum performance, yet remain largely hidden from view on four building rooftops. Reviewed by the Division of the State Architect (DSA), the system meets or exceeds the state’s seismic and safety building codes for schools. The PV solar system cost approximately $1,256,000. With a rebate of $628,000 from Self-Generation Incentive Program of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), administered by the California Public Utilities Commission , the district’s net investment is $628,000. The PV system will generate 240,000 kWh annually, enough to power 42 homes.

The system will produce surplus energy on sunny summer days, which will spin its  bidirectional electric meter backwards. The district will sell this excess power to PG&E at retail rates, generating a credit on its monthly electric bills when generation exceeds usage. Credits will be used when the school draws power from the grid at night and on rainy days.  U tility credits earned from the solar energy system will eliminate 100% of the school’s net annual electric bill, and save approximately $38,000 per year in avoided electric costs.

In addition to the PV system, SPG has designed and installed a Sunspot ™ PV Monitoring System, to ensure maximum efficiency and to show how much solar PV energy is being produced by the system, how much is being consumed by the school, and the amount of energy that is being sold to or bought from PG&E, on a real-time basis. Students, school administrators, teachers and parents can see all of this data from an interactive kiosk in the school library. SPG also developed an online capability for teachers and administrators to view historic PV data to get a time-of-use perspective for any time period. This ties in with an elementary school solar power curriculum for each grade, which is being developed by SPG and the school district.

“We think that electricity bills in California may be double what they are now within a few years. Going solar gives us control over our electric utility rates, and we can accommodate our community’s desire to be green,” said Bob Caine, Kentfield School District Superintendent. “We are in the process of installing a 200 kW system at Kent Middle School. When that system goes online, the Kentfield School District will be the first and only public school district in California that is 100% solar,” continued Caine. “We will have several dedication ceremonies at Bacich School on Tuesday, September 27. Students will see the new system and solar demonstrations at 11:35 and at 12:00. At 7 PM, we will welcome the school board, parents and community members interested in solar power to join us.”

For more information about SPG Solar, Inc., see www.spgsolar.com