The Tucson Unified School District has received a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its efforts in advancing the nation’s renewable energy market.
The EPA says in a news release that the Tucson district was singled out as a Green Power Partner of the Year for installing one of the largest on-site solar generation projects at a K-12 school system in the nation.
“We commend the Tucson Unified School District for helping expand the use of the zero-carbon market,” says Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Green power is an affordable investment that provides reliable energy while fighting global warming.”
The district expects to save more than $11 million in energy costs over the 20-year life of the project.
The 2015 Green Power Leadership Awards were presented at the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Arlington, VA. The Tucson Unified School District was among 25 businesses and organizations across 13 states that were recognized for their achievements.
Tucson placed solar arrays at 43 sites across the district, with a total installed capacity of more than 11 megawatts. Collectively, the solar arrays produce nearly 20 million kilowatt-hours of green power per year, which represents about 20 percent of the district’s annual electricity use.
VIDEO: Tucson school principal Christopher Loya discusses the solar project:
