Five TUSD schools will receive solar energy systems from Tucson Electric Power Co. at no charge to them. The Governing Board unanimously approved the donations this week.
The 5-kilowatt systems are being donated through TEP's Solar for Schools program, which seeks to provide an educational resource that encourages students to learn more about solar energy.
"These are the young men and women who will enter our colleges and workforce, and we'd like them to know as much about solar energy as possible," said TEP spokesman Joe Salkowski.
The program provides a learning opportunity through specialized curriculum and real-time energy data from the systems.
It also allows sites to use the power generated to cut back on energy bills. Each of the systems being installed could save the district about $1,000 annually.
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The schools that will receive the systems are Pueblo Magnet, Cholla Magnet, Sabino, Santa Rita and Sahuaro high schools.
Other school districts across the Tucson area will also receive one solar energy system each to have installed at the high school of their choice. They include: Catalina Foothills, Vail, Tanque Verde, the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Amphitheater, Flowing Wells, Sunnyside and Marana.
The cost of installing each system will range from $25,000 to $50,000. For the TUSD campuses, the installation will cost $45,000, and an additional $5,000 will be spent on the educational aspect.
TEP will cover the cost with funding from the renewable-energy surcharge on customers' monthly bills.
The Solar for Schools program is intended to help TEP meet Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard, which requires utilities to increase their use of renewable energy each year until it represents 15 percent of their power in 2025.
Most of the systems will be installed by September, except those in TUSD, which will be complete by the end of the calendar year.
TEP has requested additional funding for 2012 to expand the program. "This is the beginning of what we hope will result in solar-power systems in every public local high school," Salkowski said.
Electricity expenses
FY 2009-2010
Pueblo High $417,690
Cholla High $396,508
Sabino High $376,933
Santa Rita High $465,151
Sahuaro High $484,670
Year-to-date FY 2010-11
Pueblo $371,365
Cholla $396,864
Sabino $328,089
Santa Rita $403,359
Sahuaro $467,856
SOURCE: TUSD
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at ahuicochea@azstarnet.com or 573-4175.