Lodi Unified School District Will Raise $5 Million with Solar Installation

The Lodi Unified School District in California has begun construction of a 2 megawatt solar photovoltaic system that will generate $200,000 annually.

The $9.9 million system will include four parking lot installations, the largest of which will be a 947 kilowatt system at Ronald E. McNair High School. The other installations will be:

The electricity generated by the installations will not be used to power the schools, but will instead be sold to PG&E and Lodi Electric Utility, according to Art Hand, assistant superintendant of facilities and planning for LUSD. Hand said that over the 25-year life of the equipment, the project should generate $5 million in revenue for the district.

Cupertino Electric began installing the systems March 14, with plans calling for construction to be completed this summer, according to information released by the company.

Cupertino Electric is also making all of the energy information from the system available to students online and working with district teachers to create a science curriculum that integrates that information.

"We are excited to begin construction on the multi-campus solar system that will decrease energy costs and, subsequently, increase student-related spending," Hand said. "We plan to positively impact the environment, as well as our students who will gain a real-world opportunity to learn about green jobs and technologies."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • education funding and graduation symbols on wooden dice

    What Is the Education Freedom Tax Credit and How Will It Work?

    The federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) is a new source of funding for education that could benefit 90% of students in states that have opted in to the program. However, some confusion and misconceptions exist surrounding details of the program, including which programs may qualify, how parents can apply for scholarships, and how public school students can benefit.

  • AI user wearing orange safety vest

    More Oversight: California Governor Proposes Independent Watchdogs Within AI Safety System

    California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a new model of artificial intelligence regulation that would give independent organizations a formal role in evaluating the safety claims made by AI giants.

  • cloud infrastructure diagrams and security alerts

    Microsoft Expands Protections and Controls for Sovereign Cloud

    Microsoft is introducing new tools within its sovereign cloud offerings designed to give organizations tighter control over where their data resides, who can access it, and how critical systems operate, especially in light of AI becoming a bigger part of enterprise infrastructure.

  • broken digital lock and glowing chain

    Check Point Researchers: AI Has Crossed into the Live Attack Chain

    AI is moving beyond assisting cybercriminals and beginning to operate within live attacks, according to a recent report from Check Point Research. The technology is making sophisticated capabilities faster and more accessible while creating new security risks for businesses deploying their own AI systems.