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Saint Helena Unified School District briefs council on planned solar‑canopy project for four schools
Summary
District officials told the council they have selected a finalist for a 20‑year power purchase agreement to install solar canopies at four Saint Helena schools, with construction targeted to start summer 2025 and completion around April 2026.
Kaye Veil, chief business official for the Saint Helena Unified School District, provided the City Council with an update on the district’s planned solar canopy project during the public‑comment portion of the Jan. 14 meeting.
Veil said the school board approved issuing a request for proposals for a 20‑year power purchase agreement on April 11, 2024. The district invited 14 firms, received five proposals and interviewed four; BPI was chosen as the finalist for the power purchase agreement. The project would place solar canopies at four school sites.
Veil said array layouts have been revised several times in response to input from school staff, parents, athletic directors, the district’s architect and arborist, the construction manager and the city’s fire chief and public works staff. Three‑dimensional renderings of the proposed canopies are posted at the school sites, and the district has shared them with surrounding neighborhoods. Veil said the canopies will have a minimum clearance of about 13 feet above finished grade.
Veil and the district’s energy consultant, Gopal Shankar, said they walked neighborhoods near the middle school and elementary school last week and have reached out to an adjacent homeowners association. Construction is projected to begin summer 2025 with completion targeted by April 2026. The district encouraged questions or comments and provided contact information for people who want to review the renderings or request copies.
The council thanked the district for the briefing; no formal council action was required or taken on the item during the meeting.
