The Solar Schools Program administered by the California Energy Commission is closed. The three investor-owned utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have incentives available for qualifying school applicants. Schools interested in retrofitting their school with a solar photovoltaic (PV) system and applying for a rebate can find information on the California Solar Initiative website: www.gosolarcalifornia.org/csi/nonres/index.html.
Schools in municipal utility districts may be able to seek funds for solar through their individual municipal service provider: www.gosolarcalifornia.org/utilities/index.html.
A total of $4.5 million was awarded, of which half came from the Energy Commission's Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) along with a matching amount from the California Attorney General's Alternative Energy Retrofit Account (AGAERA). This funding enabled 28 California schools to purchase and install solar photovoltaic systems with an expected generating capacity of 642 kilowatts. These schools are located within the Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric service areas. Over sixty school districts applied for the special rebate incentive. The amount of funding requested far exceeded the amount available. (See list of Solar Schools Program Summary).
The 2004 Solar Schools Program was approved at the Energy Commission's May 19, 2004 Business Meeting, after the final funding authority was granted for the AGAERA funds. Program guidelines, including special funding requirements, were also adopted at the same time. The one-time rebate incentive of $6.40/watt - twice the amount of the ERP rebate level at the time - was offered to public and charter schools meeting program eligibility requirements.
Systems had to meet the California Division of State Architects (DSA) requirements for solar system installations, including structural support, in order to satisfy Emerging Renewables Program (ERP) and Solar Schools Program (SSP) requirements. A letter sent to SSP participants describing these requirements, along with copies of the required approval and certification letters from DSA, can be viewed at the link provided below.
The Energy Commission does not expect any future funding for the Solar Schools Program.
If you have questions regarding the Solar Schools Program, please contact Marija Krapcevich by email at: mkrapcev@energy.state.ca.us or by phone at (916) 654-4180.
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Solar Schools Program Summary, Status as of 6/15/2008
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