California District To Save $252,000 Annually with Solar Power

The Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) has completed installation of a 705-kilowatt solar photovoltaic installation estimated to save as much as $252,000 in annual energy costs.

Located at Redwood High School, the panels are mounted on carport shade structures in the parking lot that feature charging stations for four electric vehicles.

"Tamalpais Union High School District is reducing its environmental impact through the use of renewable energy. The solar power system is also delivering savings we can use to enhance our educational programs," said TUHSD Governing Board Trustee Bob Walter, in a prepared statement. "The completed parking canopies are maximizing the amount of solar power we are generating on site.  It has been great for our students to watch the construction of this system that will produce electricity directly from sunlight."

Installed by SunPower, the new system will eliminate 822 metric tons of greenhouse gasses each year, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

"Tamalpais Unified High School District can rely on its SunPower solar systems to deliver exceptional value for the next 25 years," said Howard Wenger, president of business units at SunPower, in a prepared statement. "SunPower has proven experience working with 21 California school districts to deliver innovative solar solutions. It is extremely rewarding to enable our public schools to generate their own sustainable, clean power, inspiring teachers and students with the great power and potential of the sun."

About the Author

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

Featured

  • digital graph

    Building Genuinely Data-Informed School Districts

    Schools today generate enormous amounts of data. The difference between collecting it and using it effectively often comes down to quality, access, and context.

  • Wi-Fi icon on dark blue circuit background

    FCC to Conduct 'Top-to-Bottom' Review of E-Rate Program

    The FCC is laying the groundwork for a comprehensive review of its E-Rate program, the federal initiative that provides K–12 schools and public libraries with discounts on internet, WiFi, and telecommunications services to ensure equitable digital access.

  • Human Hand Assembling Digital Data Blocks

    Report: AI Impact Relies on Strong Data Foundation

    High-impact AI implementations are more likely to treat data architecture, governance, and operationalization as strategic requirements, according to the 2026 Blueprint report from TDWI.

  • Engineering team implements digital guardrails on AI

    3 Starting Points for Integrating AI Guardrails in K-12 Districts

    As education leaders start to craft an AI policy that is both practical and flexible enough to evolve with this fast-changing technology, there is at least one principle that should be foundational: AI should serve to augment human critical thinking and creativity but never replace human interaction and decision-making.