California District To Save $18 Million with Solar

The William S. Hart Union High School District in Santa Clarita Valley, CA is building a photovoltaic (PV) solar system designed to produce between $18 and $20 million in energy savings over 20 years.

PsomasFMG is providing the turnkey solar solution to help reduce energy consumption for nine of the district's junior and senior high schools. The Huntington Beach, CA company arranged for project financing free of upfront costs to the school district and is managing installation of a 7 megawatt system of 30,400 PV panels that are expected to deliver more than 80 percent of the district's energy needs. The ongoing construction schedule calls for the system to be completed and operational by the 2012-2013 school year, when the school district will begin to realize the cost savings of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with PsomasFMG, the partners said.

School District Superintendent Rob Challinor in a news release cited two immediate benefits of the project.

"First, as a result of generating 7 megawatts of energy, it is reducing the district's electrical consumption, which will allow those dollars to be put toward student programs," he said. "Additionally, students will have the benefit of first-hand experience on becoming better stewards of our environment."

The district's students will gain an education about solar power and its impact on the environment because they "can see how solar panels are transforming sunlight to power and electricity," said Gloria Mercado-Fortine, president of the district's governing board in a news release. Fortine said she expected that this educational process will be "an opportunity to develop an interest in architecture and the environment."

Most of the PV panels will be installed atop steel frame canopies that provide shaded parking for approximately 2,300 vehicles. Additional panels will be ground-mounted in some locations, as needed, the school district said.

The William S. Hart Union High School District serves approximately 23,000 students at "six comprehensive high schools, a continuation school, middle college high school, independent study school, six junior high schools, an adult school, and a Regional Occupational Program," according to information released by the school.

Visit hart.k12.ca.us for more information.

About the Author

Jerry Bard is a freelance technology writer. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • young educators collaborate with AI tools on laptops and tablets

    Survey: Younger Educators More Likely to Embrace AI Tools

    While educators across the United States agree that AI has enhanced classroom engagement, enthusiasm for AI's benefits is strongest among young teachers, according to a recent survey from learning technology company D2L.