Solar Installation at El Dorado Elementary School

May 21, 2009
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SOLAR INSTALLATION AT EL DORADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL School will be among 
LAUSD's, nation's first converted to grid neutral
 
(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member 
Julie Korenstein and California State Architect David Thorman were among the 
speakers at an event today to celebrate the installation of a high-efficiency 
SunPower solar power system at El Dorado Avenue Elementary School.  After the 
system is installed, El Dorado Avenue Elementary School will have the 
distinction of being one of the first two schools in LAUSD to become grid 
neutral - meaning that it will produce as much electricity as it uses in a 
year.

"The installation of a solar-powered system at El Dorado Elementary School is 
extremely important in helping to conserve energy and to reduce the carbon 
footprint," Korenstein said. "We all need to work together to assure that 
there will be a healthier environment for our children."

El Dorado Avenue Elementary School is among the first LAUSD schools in the Los 
Angeles Department of Water & Power's (LADWP) coverage area to have a system 
generating clean, renewable solar power installed.  The project is fully 
funded by a combination of the District's recent settlement with the LADWP and 
from their solar incentive program.  

LAUSD is partnering with SunPower Corp., a manufacturer of high efficiency 
solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, to deliver the installation that 
will generate more than 90 percent of the school's annual usage, enough to 
power approximately 22 homes for a year.

"El Dorado Elementary is demonstrating that grid neutral is obtainable in both 
new and existing schools.  Decades after first opening its doors, it is 
exciting to see El Dorado Elementary will soon be a model for what 21st 
century schools should be," California State Architect David Thorman said.  
"El Dorado serves as an example of how, by going grid neutral, California 
schools can help meet the challenge the Governor has given us to reduce 
greenhouse gases statewide.  Everyone involved in this project should be very 
proud."

LAUSD plans to install 50 megawatts of solar power by 2012.  Within the next 
six months, solar systems will also be installed at the following additional 
sites:  Canoga Park High School, Ann Street Elementary School, Banning High 
School, Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, Francis Polytechnic Senior High 
School, Grover Cleveland High School and LAUSD Local District 5 Offices.

 "With plans for 50 MW online by 2012, LAUSD has one of the most ambitious 
solar energy policies and programs of any major public entity in the United 
States," LAUSD Chief Facilities Executive Guy Mehula said.  "This site, 
combined with the other seven sites we are about to install solar power 
systems on, will generate 3.7 MW of renewable energy, preventing 5.4 million 
pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year."  

LAUSD's Sustainability Initiatives Program is working to reduce the District's 
energy consumption, water consumption and green house gas emissions by ten 
percent by 2012.  For more information, please visit www.laschools.org. 

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Contributed by Facilities News