The Hermiston School District has energized a 20-kilowatt solar array at its Loma Vista Elementary School in Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s (UEC) service territory.
In 2019, the Hermiston School District passed a school bond allowing for many site improvements, including the rebuilding of an existing elementary school and adding a new elementary school, Loma Vista.
The district set clear expectations when designing the schools: cost-savings was important. To allow for material efficiencies, both new schools even utilized the same design. UEC partnered with the Hermiston School District to provide an energy analysis prior to the construction of Loma Vista Elementary to ensure proper sizing of a solar array based on estimated usage. The district was also able to capitalize on the $2,500 rebate incentive from UEC to help offset the costs of the solar installation.
“We look forward to seeing the energy efficiency savings that the district will experience from this solar array,” says Jackie Caldera, Energy Efficiency representative. “We also completed a lighting efficiency project in both new schools in partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration that will save the district a significant amount of kilowatt hours as well.”
