Orange Unified Schools Connecting to Rooftop Solar PV Installed by Ameresco

Massachusetts-based on-site energy project developer Ameresco is working on the West Coast to deliver a solar photovoltaic array across seven southern California schools.

Ameresco is installing the solar power system for Orange Unified School District (OUSD). The panels are being deployed across rooftops and carports within multiple school sites, including four elementary, one middle and two high school campuses in the Orange District.

As part of the power purchase agreement contract, Ameresco will own and maintain the solar systems, and OUSD will purchase the power generated by each system at a fixed rate for the next 25 years. The fixed rate will help OUSD in energy savings without any fluctuations in energy pricing and guaranteeing savings.

The initiative includes seven solar projects, five of which are completed, while the remaining two high schools are scheduled to be energized by the end of 2025.

“Our strong and long-term partnership with Ameresco is helping us to decrease energy costs and work toward our goal to optimize efficiency across the district,” said Isela Vazquez, senior executive director for facilities development & planning at Orange Unified School District, in a statement. “By investing in resilient energy technology, we’re investing in our district’s energy independence and ensuring our ability to provide the best possible education to every single of our students.”

Ameresco has developed distributed energy and efficiency projects at numerous schools and college campuses across the U.S. The company modernize the district heating system at Northeastern University in Boston, plus completed solar and other DER and combined heat and power installations for Brophy College Preparatory in Arizona, Warren Woods Public Schools in Michigan, and Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

“These initiatives highlight how schools can strengthen their energy resilience while reducing costs,” said Lou Maltezos, President of Central & Western USA, Canada Regions at Ameresco.

Orange Unified School District educates more than 30,000 students from communities including Orange, Anaheim and throughout Orange County.