KING CITY — Crews have begun the installation of solar arrays at King City High School’s parking lot off Broadway Street, which is scheduled for completion in late April.
South Monterey County Joint Union High School District’s energy service agreement with ForeFront Power includes the installation of solar arrays at both King City and Greenfield high schools. Greenfield’s solar project was completed last September.
According to Chief Business Official Sherrie Castellanos, the estimated energy cost savings in the first year is $55,000 and the overall savings over 20 years is estimated at $1.8 million.
In 2017, the school district began working with ForeFront Power and the School Project for Utility Rate Reduction (SPURR), which is a joint powers authority dedicated to helping California public sector agencies control and reduce utility expenses.
SPURR’s Renewable Energy Aggregated Procurement Program allows schools, colleges and other public agencies to procure solar and energy storage services through ForeFront Power, which was awarded the competitive Request for Proposal. The school district was able to “piggyback onto this contract, saving time and money,” Castellanos said.
“There was no capital cost for the District, only inspection and permitting,” she explained. “The District has purchasing options but does not own the solar arrays.”
District staff, students and parents will be able to park under the solar arrays once completed. Both high school sites will also have electric vehicle charging stations for drivers to purchase electricity.
