Solar Project Overview

May 17, 2023 Update

The Belmont Redwood Shores School District is excited to be entering the construction phase of its clean energy program. Under this program, lighting across all sites is being upgraded to energy-efficient LED fixtures. Additionally, this summer, we will be building on-site solar photovoltaic canopies at four sites. The solar generation will provide 93% of the energy used at these sites. This energy conservation program will help the district reduce its energy costs and achieve its sustainability goals as well as provide educational opportunities for students so they can connect the District’s sustainability efforts to concepts they’re learning in the classroom.

See below for site-specific information about the solar canopies that will be installed:

Central Elementary School: 62.1 kW of solar power. The canopy will be built on the blacktop between the school and the field. When complete, the canopy will provide shade to students using the playground.

Cipriani Elementary School: 64.3 kW of solar power. The canopy will be built on the blacktop next to the parking lot and will replace the existing shade structures. The solar canopy will provide shade to students using the playground.

Ralston Middle School: 226.8 kW of solar power. The canopy will be built in the front parking lot along Ralston Ave and will provide shade for the bus stop and handicap parking.

Timeline and Schedule:

We expect fencing to go up around the construction areas starting June 19, 2023. These fenced off areas will be inaccessible to community members. In July, there will be three weeks of activity at each site that involves drilling holes, pouring concrete, raising the steel structures, and mounting the solar modules. After the steel framing is up, electricians will work under the canopies to wire in the modules and bore underground from the utility meter to the arrays to bring conduit and electrical service to the arrays. Fencing is expected to come down by the beginning of school in August. An on-site construction manager will be present whenever construction is happening to ensure safety of the site.

May 2, 2023 Update

We are excited to announce that the Belmont Redwood Shores School District will be constructing solar canopy arrays with ENGIE Services U.S. at four of its schools in the Summer of 2023. This project is a crucial step towards reducing our energy costs as well as achieving our green energy goals. In the first year of production, the solar systems will generate 713,704 kilowatt hours resulting in a savings of $160,000 for the district and provide nearly 100% of the schools’ energy use in carbon free electricity. These projects will also provide shade for our schools, as well as incorporate educational opportunities for students to learn about the project across the district.

Solar canopies will be built on portions of the blacktops of Central Elementary and Cipriani Elementary and on the portions of the parking lots of Fox Elementary and Ralston Middle School. Please note that during construction, these facilities will be fenced off and out of service, however once the project is complete, there will be no reduction in service or their offerings. While construction has been scheduled during the summer to reduce impacts on student instruction, we understand that this construction may cause inconvenience to neighbors and those wanting to use these facilities. ENGIE Services U.S. will work with the District to minimize disruptions as much as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we take this important step towards a more sustainable future.