By Greentech Lead America: SolarCity, a clean energy provider,
has partnered with Common Cents Solar to install a 53-kilowatt solar system at
Sidwell Friends School (SFS). The new solar system will generate clean solar
electricity and create thousands of dollars in electricity bill savings for the
school over its lifetime.
The system consists of 224 solar panels, will help the
school generate its own electricity and reduce its impact on the environment
and utility grid.
“Solar electricity offers Sidwell Friends the
environmental benefits of carbon free energy production, financial savings and
rich teaching opportunities,” said Michael Saxenian, assistant head of
school and CFO of Sidwell Friends School.
SFS worked with Common Cents Solar, a local non-profit
that facilitates solar projects, to launch a program of community-based
“solar bonds”. The bonds will be repaid over about ten years after
which the SFS community members may donate the system to Sidwell Friends,
providing free energy for the remaining life of the system. In 2010, the school
and CCS installed a 120-panel system on the SFS Lower School gym roof using a
similar financing model.
SolarCity provides flexible solar financing options
that enable schools and other nonprofit organizations to go solar and begin
saving money right away. SolarCity has installed solar power for more than 150
schools and universities in the U.S. to date.
“Schools can go solar today and start saving on
utility bills tomorrow, and free up additional funds for student services. A
lot of schools are feeling the budget crunch and solar can be an answer-I think
a lot of school administrators would be surprised at how inexpensive and easy
making the move to solar can be,” said Leon Keshishian, Mid-Atlantic vice
president for SolarCity.
SolarCity installs 295-kilowatt solar electricity system at
Bayer Healthcare in Berkeley
Recently, SolarCity installed a 295-kilowatt solar
project at Bayer Healthcare’s manufacturing facilities in Berkeley. The project
is SolarCity’s largest commercial project in the city of Berkeley.
editor@greentechlead.com