The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) will begin construction of SunPower Helix solar systems at 34 school sites in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The solar installations, representing 6.3 MW of total capacity, will include carports, shade structures and rooftop systems and will be constructed over the next year, with the first phase being operational in January. The SunPower Helix systems are estimated to provide WCCUSD with more than $53 million in electricity savings over the next 25 years. On completion, SunPower estimates that 76% of the participating schools’ electricity will be provided through the SunPower Helix carport systems. WCCUSD will buy power at a competitive rate under a power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunPower and will own the renewable energy credits associated with the systems.
“Installing solar aligns with our Green School Initiative, which emphasizes energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption. We’ll be able to significantly reduce our energy costs and redirect those dollars toward other District priorities that benefit students,” WCCUSD Superintendent Matt Duffy said in a Nov. 21 statement.
“With many employees living in the district, we’re thrilled that WCCUSD has chosen SunPower for their renewable energy needs. The district will gain significant value for many years to come through the combination of a power purchase agreement and the SunPower Helix systems,” said Bill Kelly, SunPower vice president.
The West Contra Costa Unified School District serves a diverse student population of some 29,000 students at 52 schools in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
SunPower provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower’s more than 30 years of proven experience. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America.
