The Oaktown group is committed to providing services for America’s school districts that enable them to go solar. We support the State of California's GRID NEUTRAL initiative that provides the roadmap for all Californian Schools to produce as much energy as they consume.
Learn more about the CA grid neutral initiative by clicking the link below.
http://www.dgs.ca.gov/dsa/Programs/progSustainability/gridneutral.aspx
Increasing electricity costs represent a major budgetary challenge currently and in the future for school districts. In response to this challenge more municipalities are going solar to stabilize the utility cost. Imagine reducing payments to the utility company by 20 to 30 percent and how those savings could be used in the future.
For example, if a school district pays 3.1 million in electric costs per year, this cost is equivalent to, approximately 48 new teachers, 62,000 textbooks, or 3,100 computers. Year over year savings would improve the overall quality of the school, reduce class sizes, and modernize the classrooms.
This can be achieved with no upfront capital costs. The federal government offers federal energy tax credits for these systems, as well as, accelerated depreciation. Utility companies offer additional incentives. Schools and Community colleges are excluded from the tax credits and accelerated depreciation unlike the business community. The Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) allows for the Schools and Community Colleges to realize the benefits afforded to the business community.
The agreement allows for the company to install solar power systems at a school location without an initial investment from the School District. The company is then paid back by selling the electricity at a set rate until their initial costs are recovered.
The PPA provides:
1) Sets the school district with a fixed cost for electricity
2) Brings the school district into compliance with the "Grid Neutral" initiative
3) Reduces green house gases with no upfront cost to the school district
