SOLON Corporation has announced it has contracted with the Tanque Verde Unified School District (TVUSD) to build 1.15-megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Tucson, Arizona. The total system capacity for the TVUSD project, 1.15 megawatts (MW), is spread over 4 campuses of the Tanque Verde High School and Elementary School, the Emily Gray Junior High School and the Agua Caliente Elementary School.

These systems will be a combination of shade structures and rooftop systems, and the outputs will offset a large portion of the daytime energy requirements of each campus.

SOLON will engineer, design, construct, commission and maintain the operation of the systems. SOLON will provide the energy produced by these systems to TVUSD through a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

Under this form of ownership, TVUSD will be responsible only for purchasing the solar electricity that the systems produce, and will enable the District to reduce its operating expenses by saving money on its utility bills with no upfront costs required.

As utility rates continue to rise over the next 25 years, TVUSD will enjoy a low fixed rate for this electricity, and the campus' students, staff and guests will benefit from the shade provided by the structures. This program is helped made possible by the rebates provided by the local utility, Tucson Electric Power (TEP).

"We are very pleased that our district will benefit in many ways from the installation of solar energy systems," said Claire Place, member of the TVUSD Governing Board.

"The idea to implement a solar energy project as part of TEP's renewable energy rebate program began with community input, and that initiative will positively impact our district and schools for many years to come. The solar installations will bring cost savings, campus improvements and educational opportunities to our students, staff and community. As the solar provider selected for this project, SOLON has been very responsive to our district needs and specifications. We look forward to our continuing partnership with them as we move through the installation and integration phases of this project."

"SOLON has become a leading provider for solar solutions to the K-12 school districts in Arizona by listening to our customers' needs," said Robert Wanless, Director of Business Development for SOLON Corporation.

"Understanding the unique requirements of a school is essential to delivering a complete solution that will work for not only their energy needs, but also will provide the optimal financing solution to maximize cost savings. SOLON has enjoyed working with TVUSD to ensure the systems have been designed to be the most functional for each campus."

These systems will be completed and fully operational later this year and early 2013.