New Solar Project Will Bring $400,000 To Our Schools

Culver City Unified School District's Environmental Sustainability Committee

The Environmental Sustainability Committee is thrilled to announce that CCUSD is now moving forward with the solar energy project which will provide 750 kW-AC of energy at the high school, middle school and Farragut. The latest analysis from the independent energy analyst and So CA Edison project that after maintenance expense, an average of $400,000 per year ($10.4 to $16.4 million over 30 years) will be pushed into the unrestricted general fund.

This project has been pursued for over 3 years and, still has a number of hurdles, but we thank school board President Karlo Silbiger, school board members and Superintendent Jaffe for taking the necessary steps to move this valuable project forward, to benefit Culver City kids education.

The Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) has pursued the solar project because of the multi-pronged value that it will bring to the district. Firstly, the solar installation will cost approximately 3.8 million dollars or, possibly less. That money will come from our capital improvement dollars which is a bank of money that can only be used for capital improvements and not for direct education. The energy savings combined with State of California solar incentives will push desperately needed funds into the general fund, while creating an environmental benefit equal to planting 4,956 trees Per Year!

Secondly, the use of solar energy will provide a unique opportunity to educate our children about climate change, how we currently meet our energy needs, the benefits of alternative forms of energy and, how solar energy generation works.

And finally, CCUSD will become part of a growing movement across California and the nation to “green our schools.” Currently, the ESC has a pilot project up and running at Linwood Howe to both recycle and create a more energy efficient school. To support our districts new recycling initiative, we have just this week been awarded a $23,800 grant from CalRecycle. As this project expands to other campuses within CCUSD, combined with solar, CCUSD will be well on its way to becoming a green school district.

According to the independent solar consultant Clyde Murley at the March 13th Board meeting, the next steps to bring our solar energy project to completion includes the following:

• Staff brings vendor selection recommendation to Board.
• Staff negotiates contract with selected vendor.
• Board brings signed contract to Board for approval and Notice to Proceed to winning vendor.
• The Vendor begins engineering and design work with construction to begin in summer and conclude in the fall.

Concerns and further recommendations which are yet to be addressed include the following
• The district is currently requesting a plan from bidders connected to and, dependent upon the creation of a new sports complex. The full complex is dependent on additional state funding. A backup plan should be created in case the sports complex is delayed due to issues beyond the control of the district prior to finalizing contractor agreements.

Assuming that this issue is resolved, we look forward to the creation of a greener, more sustainable school district which will reap the financial benefits of this very important solar energy project.

CCUSD Environmental Sustainability Committee:
Todd Johnson, Chair
Jon Barton
Cully Nordby
Shea Cunningham
Kathleen McKernin