In order to fulfill a California state-mandated renewable energy program requirement, LAUSD will be installing solar panels on dozens of schools and administrative buildings across the district, including Venice High. 

Under California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, a program originally established in 2002 and expanded in 2011, utilities and government buildings will be required to derive at least 33 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. 

“Not only are there great environmental benefits from solar energy, but utilizing renewable energy allows LAUSD to help mitigate the escalating cost of energy,” wrote Shannon Haber, Director of Communications for LAUSD’s Facilities Service Division, in an email. “This results in savings for LAUSD’s general fund which can be applied to resources for the classroom.”

In fact, Haber indicated that LAUSD could see savings soon.

“The Venice High School installation is a capital expenditure project and will start saving the District general fund $30,000 the first year,” wrote Haber. “Over 20 years, this one project will save LAUSD approximately $1 million.”

The project is being funded through a combination of local bond funds, funding from a LAUSD settlement with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and rebates provided by LADWP and Southern California Edison. 

Chevron Energy Solutions has designed, constructed, and will maintain Venice’s solar panels. In addition to the 16 schools Chevron Energy Solutions will work with, PermaCity, Solar City, and Solar Monkey will be installing solar panels on a total of 52 schools and seven administrative buildings throughout LAUSD. 

“Although it is not currently possible to generate enough power for all schools, it is LAUSD’s goal to offset as much energy as possible with renewable sources,” wrote Haber.

Haber expects the solar panel installation at Venice to take about eight months to complete.  ◊