Saturday, November 27, 2010

Layers and layers of fact-checking: Did anyone at the NY Times verify that this California school district actually gets 75% of its electricity from its solar panels?

In California, Carports That Can Generate Electricity - NYTimes.com
“I’ve gotten calls from Hawaii, from Canada, from all over California,” said John Cimino, the director of maintenance, operations and transportation for the Milpitas Unified School District, northeast of San Jose.
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The solar panels fulfill 75 percent of his district’s annual electricity needs during the school year, he said, and 100 percent of its summer needs.
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The estimated savings over the 20-year life of a generating contract can run from $12 million for a district like Milpitas (although savings last year were a much more modest $51,000) to $40 million for Antelope Valley.
2008: Milpitas Unified School District Partners With Chevron and Bank of America on 3.4MW Solar and Energy Efficiency Program Expected to Save $12 Million for Education
* Cost Savings - The program is designed to reduce the district's energy costs by more than 22 percent and will result in $12 million in savings for the district's general fund over the life of the solar power system, while providing positive cash flow and budget predictability through known energy costs.
* Clean Energy - By lowering the district's purchase of utility power, the solar project will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 23,600 metric tons - equivalent to planting 270 acres of trees.
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Bank of America, through Banc of America Leasing Energy Services team, structured and provided financing for the project as part of its $20 billion environmental initiative. The California Solar Initiative and other incentives offset the overall cost of the program by $4.2 million.
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The Milpitas Unified School District is a high-achieving and growing K-12 district located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The student population, which is just under 10,000, is rich in ethnic and cultural diversity.

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