California schools encounter problems transitioning to solar power

Los Angeles Times : In an effort to cut their electrical bills, many schools across California are being fitted with solar panels. Unfortunately, some of the installations have experienced problems with both the construction of the arrays and their location. At Valencia High School, for example, workers originally placed the panels facing the wrong way, and they had to be repaired. Location, however, seems to be the bigger problem. To be as unobtrusive as possible, solar panels are usually placed on the roofs of buildings. At the 78-year-old Dwyer Middle School, the roof wasn’t strong enough to hold them. When school officials decided to place them on the lawn instead, the students got upset because they use the lawn for their culmination ceremonies. The panels were eventually installed with a split in the middle to allow for the ceremonies. People who live near the schools have also complained about the unsightliness of the arrays. Nevertheless, through a combination of buyback deals, incentive programs, zero-interest loans, and direct purchases, school systems are slowly transitioning to the greener source of energy, which can save them as much as 85% on their electricity costs. And with judicial placement and some landscaping, school officials hope the panels will be less of an eyesore for school personnel and their neighbors.