Gridley, CA – December 16, 2011 – Representatives from the Manzanita Elementary School District, Tioga Energy and KRC Enterprises gathered today to celebrate the completion of a solar electric project on the school’s campus.
The 104 kW, ground-mounted system will meet 75% percent of the school’s energy load while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 39 tons each year – the equivalent of 85,000 vehicle miles not traveled.
Manzanita Elementary School created an action plan in 2009 to incorporate clean energy into its operations with minimal impact to its budget. Earlier this year, school officials selected Tioga Energy – a leading provider of renewable energy services to commercial, government and non-profit institutions – to finance the system through its SurePath™ Solar power purchase agreement (PPA).
Under the terms of the 20-year contract, Tioga Energy will own, operate and maintain the system, with the Manzanita Elementary School District purchasing the generated electricity at predictable rates. By “going solar,” the district will see approximately $13,000 in energy savings during in the first year of the system’s operation and approximately $600,000 over its lifetime.
“The savings achieved by the Manzanita Elementary School District are a great example of the economic benefits available through on-site solar power generation,” said Marc Roper, vice president of sales and marketing for Tioga Energy. “Today, we celebrate the realization of the school’s clean energy goals and congratulate the administration for setting a positive example not only for its own district, but also for its peers within the educational community.”
KRC Enterprises provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the system.
“KRC Enterprises is honored to have been part of this project with Tioga, helping Manzanita Elementary School achieve its goals for generating low-cost, sustainable energy,” said Ken Roberts, president, KRC Enterprises. “The school is to be commended for its forward thinking, efficient approach, employing a solution that generates clean solar energy, delivers solid savings and also serves as a learning tool for students.”
Manzanita Elementary School students will engage with the solar installation through customized coursework, which will incorporate data from the system’s real-time monitoring capabilities.
“Factoring solar into our energy equation helps the district to offset rising electricity costs and at the same time offers an opportunity for our students to better understand the increasingly pivotal role renewable energy will play in their lives,” said Brad Roberts, superintendent for the Manzanita Elementary School District. “We are thankful to the Tioga team for effortlessly leading the entire process, from contract signing to grid interconnection. Together, we have transformed one of Northern California’s oldest schools into an organization leading the charge toward a clean energy future.”
About Tioga Energy
Tioga Energy enables commercial, government and non-profit organizations to reduce energy costs while lowering carbon emissions. Through the SurePath™ solar power purchase agreement (PPA), Tioga Energy owns and operates renewable energy systems that provide organizations a hedge against energy price volatility and accelerate their access to clean energy without any capital outlay. For more information call 877.333.9787 or visit: www.TiogaEnergy.com. To access and download Tioga Energy’s SurePath™ Solar PPA, please visit: www.tiogaenergy.com/annotated-ppa-index.php.
Media Contact:
Kimberly Setliff
Antenna Group for Tioga Energy
415-977-1942
kimberly [at] antennagroup.com
