Arizona Schools Switch to Solar Power With the Salt River Project

Utility scale solar to generate clean electricity for Arizona schools

We send our children to school to learn reading, writing, math and science.  But education can be achieved by more than just memorization.  Some Arizona schools will switch to solar power next year -  in part to save money and also to teach students about the value of renewable energy.

Of course, budgets across the nation are tight in the current economy.  Fortunately, with the Salt River Project, Arizona schools can use solar electricity without the additional cost of installing solar panels.  A new pilot program called SRP Community Solar allows schools to purchase solar power generated by a new utility-scale photovoltaic power plant to be built in 2011.

According to PennEnergy:

“Schools can invest in solar energy without the upfront costs of purchasing and installing solar panels and will not incur any maintenance or repair costs that may be associated with a rooftop system. In addition, the KWh cost for the energy produced by the solar system is locked in for ten years.”

The Salt River Project will allow school districts to purchase solar electricity at a fixed price of 9.9 cents per kWh for 10 years.  Each school’s share will be individually metered.

Hopefully, teachers will use the opportunity to instruct students about the benefits of solar energy, as well.

I’d give this project an A+!

Tags: arizona schools solar, arizona solar, community solar, photovoltaic power plant, salt river project, solar energy, solar power plant, utility scale solar