SOLEDAD — Soledad schools are moving forward with solar power this fall and winter.
“Our CC loan is pending,” Project Manager John Dominguez said. “September is when we are going to have notification on our success in getting that loan.”
If the loan is approved, construction on the Gabilan School Solar Project will begin in December. The gap, according to Dominguez, is for a three to four month procurement process, including DSA (Division of the State Architect) approvals and materials.
“We have finished and closed out the high school solar project,” Dominguez said. “On a $2 million budget, we came in under budget at $1,836,000. That money will be rolled over into the new loan.”
Main Street Middle School remodel is approximately 28 percent complete, according to Dominguez, with a budget of $30 million. The project is scheduled to be complete in August 2018.
“The still fabrication has started and is arriving,” Dominguez said. “The roof installation will be starting as soon as the masonry goes up.”
The locations of solar panels will have to be changed, according to Dominguez. During the underground services investigation, Dominguez and his team found that some infrastructure was blocking them. The solar project at the Soledad Unified School District offices will be going behind the board room. The solar project at Jack Franscioni School will also be changing its location, and the solar project might also have to be moved.
“The timing of the parking lot installation and timing of the solar rays are in conflict, so we are working with the contractor to try to make that work,” Dominguez said.
The solar projects will be spread out and the school met with Opterra to discuss the installation of the projects at Gabilan, Jack Franscioni and Main Street Middle School on July 14.
