Construction begins on $18m Colorado school solar project

February 2, 2011

Construction is well under way on a 31-site, approximately 3.1 MW solar project for the Douglas County School District in Douglas County, Colorado.

Working with New York-based solar developer REgeneration Finance, the school district’s solar project will cut its energy costs, reduce its carbon footprint and educate the student body.

More than 17,000 photovoltaic panels are in the process of being fitted to the 31 school district sites across the county in a bid to cut carbon emissions and save cash.

Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc., in conjunction with Power Partners MasTec, LLC, is the solar design-build contractor responsible for the construction.

The sites receiving photovoltaic modules include 30 elementary, middle and high schools as well as one athletic stadium, all located in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Lone Tree or Parker, Colorado.

Initial costs for the solar systems are approximately $18 million but the project is costing the school district nothing upfront – the entire project is being funded and financed by REgeneration Finance.

Under their Power Purchase Agreement, REgeneration Finance pays for the complete cost to develop, build, operate and maintain the project while DCSD purchases the emissions-free power from REgeneration Finance at a reduced rate. The low cost energy that REgeneration Finance will provide to the school district is estimated to save it $5.5 million over the next 25 years, it said.

The school district originally awarded the project to REgeneration Finance following a competitive RFP process in July, with the two sides executing the PPA in the following month.

Over the next three months, REgeneration Finance and its local partners obtained all the necessary permits and approvals, positioned the appropriate financing, and, in mid-November, received approval from the school district’s project managers to begin construction. With all of the solar modules, inverters and mounting equipment currently on-site, the project expects to continue to move swiftly and is projected to be completed on schedule, it said.

“We are focused on finding solutions that will save Colorado schools money while bringing new technology to the education system in this progressive state,” said Laurance Friedman, REgeneration Finance’s CEO.

Add your comments

http://solarpowerisfree.org/archives/1021 Daily Solar Reads – 2011-Feb-03 « Solar Power is Free
[...] on the brink of economic breakthrough Renewable Revolution – the Sustainable Solution Construction begins on $18m Colorado school solar project 5.3 MW Solar Farm For Princeton University Learn About Solar Power Education Did we miss [...]
http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/02/solar-panels-to-dot-colorado-schools/ Solar Panels To Dot Colorado Schools | EarthTechling
[...] to complete the project and certainty of financial terms presented.image via REgeneration FinanceConstruction began on the sites at the beginning of this month and currently, more than 17,000 photovoltaic panels [...]
Jeannette
My eleven year old daughter is trying to come up with fundraiser ideas to do this at her school. Any ideas??