5.5 Megawatts
San José Unified School District announced on February 5, 2009, the completion of what is believed to be the largest K-12 solar and energy efficiency project in the United States.
The project, which includes a total of 5.5 megawatts of solar power at 14 district sites, is expected to reduce the district’s energy costs by more than 30 percent. Reductions in energy costs are expected to save the district’s general fund more than $25 million over the 25-year life of the project. The California Solar Initiative and other incentives offset the overall cost of the program by more than $11 million. The environmental reduction of 37,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to planting 400 acres of trees.
The PV system was dedicated at Willow Glen Middle School and High School in San Jose, CA on February 5th, 2009.