“What better way to educate San Francisco’s future leaders to be stewards of the environment than to bring solar power and solar education directly to the school sites,” said SFPUC General Manager Susan Leal. “Solar installations at our schools and other municipal buildings greatly boost public awareness and education about solar technologies.” 

For each campus participating in the “Solar Schools” initiative, the SFPUC will install a 2.5-kilowatt solar system to supplement the schools’ energy needs. The systems are designed using solar power technologies similar to those suitable for residential and commercial buildings and will promote the development of solar in San Francisco by increasing public understanding of comparable systems.

“I am pleased that the SFPUC and the San Francisco Department of the Environment have identified six of our public schools as potential Generation Solar sites,” said SFUSD Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. “Operating with less and less funding from the State, we are excited by the idea of exploring generating our own energy in a more environmentally friendly way, and we look forward to working with both of these departments.”

The six “Solar Schools” selected in the joint agreement are just one example of San Francisco’s growing leadership in municipal solar installations. Last month the SFPUC issued a request for proposal under the agency’s popular Generation Solar program to provide solar power to a total of ten municipal sites, including public libraries, health clinics and schools. The Generation Solar program, a partnership with the San Francisco Department of Environment, provides San Francisco residents and businesses with turnkey installation and financing of solar photovoltaic systems and the accompanying energy-conservation measures.

Assemblyman Mark Leno joined SFPUC and SFUSD officials to reinforce the significance of San Francisco’s commitment to solar through AB594, a new state law recently signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, that will greatly diversify the opportunities for solar power on municipal buildings. The new legislation, authored by Leno with the strong support of the SFPUC, calls for PG&E to credit San Francisco for energy produced at remote solar sites, enabling the City to build more powerful and expansive solar systems.

“Today’s agreement with the SFUSD is a testament to AB594’s potential for vast solar development. San Francisco will now be able to build large-scale solar systems on sites such as our hospitals, airports, and roof topped reservoirs,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno. “By building large scale sources of renewable power, we not only provide a cost savings for the City, but protect the environment as we further establish our energy independence.”

These significant solar energy announcements come as San Francisco prepares to host “Solar Power 2004”, the nation’s premier solar energy conference October 18 – 21.  San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, a longtime champion of alternative energies, also announced that he would bring a resolution before the Board of Supervisors that recognizes the City’s significant contributions to the solar industry and declares next week “San Francisco, First in Solar Week.”