Trustees approve contract for solar panels at FHS

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Fallbrook High School is going solar. At the March 28 board meeting, trustees of the Fallbrook Union High School District agreed to pay Baker Electric $3.9 million upfront and another $8.1 million to finance solar panels in the parking lots at Fallbrook High School.

Trustees were told the cost of equipment and financing is offset by the energy cost savings of $19.5 million over 30 years. The district would start realizing a positive “payback period” in 8.1 years.

The initial plans several months ago had some panels placed in other areas of the campus, including near the agricultural department’s area, but the company found a way to use only parking lots.

“That won me over big-time,” commented Diane Summers, vice chairman of the board prior to its unanimous approval.

Trustee Oscar Caralampio asked about the use of parking lots during construction and Superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez replied that most of the construction should be done in the summer, when the parking need is not as great.

Trustees voted at the Jan. 10 meeting to terminate their previous agreement dated Sept. 28 with Johnson Controls, Inc. for solar panels and voted to direct Garza-Gonzalez to negotiate a new contract with Baker Electric.