Governor Northam Launches Richmond Public Schools Solar Project

Governor Ralph Northam, RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras, and Secure Futures Solar CEO Tony Smith will announce the completion of the largest solar project at a public school in Virginia according to Generation180 on Friday, February 21st.

The Richmond Public Schools Solar Launch will be held at Lucille Brown Middle School (pictured above), where the solar panels are visible from street-level.

Solar-bration at Richmond Public Schools

It’s finally here – Richmond Public Schools are launching their whopping 2.9 megawatt solar power project! According to the nonprofit Generation180, this is the largest solar installation on a school district in Virginia to date (up through 2019).

Ten Richmond Public Schools have installed solar panels:

Huguenot High School
Lucille Brown Middle School
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
J.H. Blackwell Elementary School
G.H. Reid Elementary School
M.J. Jones Elementary School
Linwood Holton Elementary School
Oak Grove Elementary School
Broad Rock Elementary School
J.B. Fisher Elementary School

Through a power purchase agreement with Secure Futures, the school division received on-campus solar power with no capital cost. Secure Futures is selling 100% of the solar power produced to the school division at a rate lower than what they are currently paying to their electric utility, Dominion.

This will save Richmond Public Schools approximately $2 million in energy costs over the next 20 years. The company will help the schools integrate the solar panels into classroom work through teacher training and SOL-compliant curricula from the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project.

Richmond Public Schools have access to live energy monitoring from their on-campus rooftop solar array, which they can incorporate into classroom projects. Here is a snapshot of the energy production at Lucille Brown Middle School on 2/18/20.

You’re Invited!

We invite you to solar-brate with us on Friday, February 21st at Lucille Brown Middle School, where the solar panels are easily visible.

WHO:

Governor Ralph Northam
Lucille Brown MS student, Justin Jimenez
RPS Superintendent, Jason Kamras
RPS School Board Member, Liz Doerr
Community Foundation for a greater Richmond President/CEO, Sherrie Armstrong
Secure Futures Solar CEO, Tony Smith
Standard Solar Chief Development Officer, Tony Clifford
Environment Virginia representative, Joe Rupp
Lucille Brown MS Principal, Stacy Gaines

WHAT: Speakers will announce the completion of the RPS solar panel project, the largest solar energy system completed at a K-12 school division in Virginia to date. Installed on 10 campuses across the division, the schools’ solar panels will produce enough electricity to power more than 500 average homes per year. Generating their own solar power will save Richmond Public Schools approximately $2 million in utility power over the next 20 years.

WHERE: Lucille M. Brown Middle School, 6300 Jahnke Rd, Richmond, VA 23225

WHEN: Friday, February 21 from 1:00pm-2:00pm

CONTACT: RPS Office of Engagement, 804.780.7694, [email protected]

INCLEMENT WEATHER:

In case of rain: launch held in the multipurpose room (bring a government ID to check in)
In case of school delay due to snow: launch held in the multipurpose room (bring a government ID to check in)
In case of school closure due to snow: launch will be rescheduled, date TBD