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Arizona School District To Build 4.29 MW Solar Installation

  • By Tim Sohn
  • 10/17/11

The Buckeye Union High School District has launched a 4.29 megawatt solar project to be financed and maintained by Harrison, NY-based Regeneration Finance LLC.

The installation, which will consist of ground mount and elevated ground mount photovoltaic arrays, will be completed by Core Construction with project management and consulting from GV Enterprises and Natural Power and Energy.

"The solar team we have assembled will be completing the installation of the solar project in December of this year--bringing clean electricity to power our schools and providing about 70% of the district’s power needs,” said John Drew of GV Enterprises, project manager for the effort. "But the best part is that the schools will pay nothing for this installation and will save on electrical costs for the next 25 years."

Under the 25-year agreement, Regeneration Finance will own and run the solar systems, while the school district will buy the electricity at a pre-set rate. There are no set-up or maintenance costs that the district will incur.

The solar project is included in Arizona Public Service's Renewable Incentives Program, and will employ local workers from Core Construction.

Buckeye Union High School District, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, serves approximately 3,700 students at the BUHSD Learning Center and three high schools: Buckeye Union High School; Estrella Foothills High School; and Youngker High School. Total enrollment is approximately 3,700.

In addition, Buckeye Elementary School District saw the start of solar installations in July. The $20 million project, for six schools and the district office, includes 3.26 MW of photovoltaic solar installations.

For more information, visit buhsd.org or regenerationfinance.net.

About the Author

Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief of a variety of publications including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, and wire services. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @editortim.

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