SolarCity’s Proposal to Frederick County Public Schools

SolarCity’s Proposal to Frederick County Public Schools for an Aggregate Net Energy Metered Photovoltaic System located at Kemptown Elementary School

Prepared By:

SolarCity Corporation 9000 Virgina Manor Road

Beltsville, MD.

SolarCity Contact:

R. Brent Eskay (Sr.) Project Development Manager [email protected] 240-997-2116

Client Contact

Charles Dalphon Energy and Utilities Coordinator Frederick County Public

schools 7446 Hayward Road Frederick,MD 21702

mailto:[email protected]

Confidential and Proprietary Information

Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 About SolarCity ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 SolarCity’s Price Proposal ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Preliminary System Design ........................................................................................................................................... 5

Preliminary Layout ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 SolarCity Stability ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Monitoring ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Operations and Maintenance ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Energy Performance Guarantee ................................................................................................................................. 12 Appendix A: DemandLogic .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Appendix B: Case Studies ........................................................................................................................................... 14

R. Brent Eskay |Senior project development manager 240-997-2116 | [email protected] SolarCity Corporation | www.solarcity.com

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http://www.solarcity.com/


August 19, 2015

Charles F. Dalphon, Energy and Utilities Coordinator Frederick County Public Schools 7446 Hayward Road Frederick,MD 21702 Office – 301-644-5173

Dear Charles,

On behalf of SolarCity, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to review our proposal. For this first project, SolarCity is proposing to install a 2,775 KW DC ground mount array at Kemptown Elementary School, This is a behind the meter installation, so the energy will feed directly into the school during the daylight hours. Our estimated price for the Kemptown Elementary School system is [$.053kwh] over a 20 year term with a 0% escalator This ground mounted array will provide approximately 300% of the schools power needs, and will export the additional power to offset an unlimited amount of meters for FCPS. This system would qualify for the MD Aggregate Net Energy Metering program(ANEM). This program allows the host to generate additional energy at one site, and offset both generated and distributed power costs at other meter locations within the FCPS control. We have also discussed the idea of Utilizing SolarCity's Battery Demand Logic program to help manage the demand power, and provide backup energy power to the school. This is a no cost solution if it will work, but in order to determine its viability, we would need 15 minute interval data from the school site. We are happy to investigate this option by request form the schools, but it will not affect the current financial dynamics of the system we are proposing. .

On our site walk at Kemptown Elementary, SolarCity determined that the electrical system at Kemptown Elementary currently utilizes a 2000 amp panel. In order to build this array, SolarCity will need to upgrade the current panel to a 3000 amp panel. In addition, SolarCity will need to step up the power to 13-2, then step down to 480, to be utilized by the school. These are common upgrades for a system of this size. The costs for these upgrades, are all included in the current PPA rate offered to FCPS for this project. Feel free to call with further details on this upgrade. It would certainly be performed at a time selected by the school, so not to interfere with school operations.

Education: We have installed solar in over 400 school sites across the country and value the educational opportunity that these projects provide both for students and the surrounding community. Our expert project managers make every effort to minimize campus disturbances during construction, and our proprietary monitoring data engages students once these systems are operational. In addition, SolarCity has worked with the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED), a nationally accredited institution, to offer energy related curriculum that furthers the learning experience. I have attached our current curriculum offerings in a pdf file attached to this email. These costs can be absorbed into the PPA rate, once FCPS determines the most useful approach for the school system.

Reduced Energy Costs: SolarCity provides renewable energy at prices that are below overall utility rates. Through SolarCity’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) can reduce its energy costs while protecting the environment. Moreover, SolarCity’s PPAs require no upfront investment—you start paying for energy only after the system has been installed. And because we offered FCPS a fixed rate for energy over the 20-year contract term, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your energy prices will be stable over the long term.

Secure Financing: Our track record raising financing ensures that your systems will receive funding and get built on schedule. SolarCity is a public corporation, which has raised funds to finance more than $8 billion in solar projects with investments from a number of the world’s leading financial institutions and corporations.2

2 As of May 28, 2015


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Operational Excellence: As a turnkey solar provider, SolarCity handles all aspects of your solar project from financing to design to engineering and construction to operations and maintenance. Unlike most commercial solar providers, SolarCity self-performs installations, dramatically reducing installation times. In a recent example, SolarCity’s commercial crew installed a 157 kW commercial flat roof in three days, versus an industry standard of 20 days, using our proprietary Zep mounting hardware.

Innovative Solutions: When it comes to developing ways to make solar power less costly for our clients, SolarCity is leading the market with new technology development. Our in-house designed Zep Solar racking systems reduce installation times, giving SolarCity the ability to minimize disruption to our client’s sites. We offer more savings opportunities for our customers with DemandLogic, the industry’s first fully integrated PV and storage system. SolarCity is also constructing what is slated to be the largest solar module manufacturing plant in the Western Hemisphere. This factory will produce high efficiency, made-in-America Silevo modules.

Local Presence: We are a national company in strength, with over 12,000 employees3 but, we are local in presence with 70+ regional warehouses4 across the US.

As a publicly-traded company, SolarCity is required to request all information provided in this proposal be treated as privileged and confidential. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with Frederick County Public Schools, [and learn more about your energy needs.

Sincerely,

R. Brent Eskay

3 As of July 31, 2015 4 As of April 16, 2015


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Written permission obtained from Brent Eskay to post this proposal. (11.03.15)




About SolarCity SolarCity is a public corporation (NASDAQ: SCTY) founded by Peter and Lyndon Rive in June 2006 with the mission to help transform the way energy is delivered in the 21st century through cleaner, more affordable, distributed solar generation. Our innovative financing, technology, project management system, and supply volume have allowed SolarCity to provide the highest quality installations at competitive prices to thousands of homeowners, businesses, schools, governments, and non-profit organizations. As of June 30,

2015, SolarCity has installed more than 320 MW for 2,000 commercial and government customers including the US Military, Walmart, eBay, Walgreens, Safeway, MillerCoors, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Intel and Hewlett Packard. SolarCity installed more commercial solar capacity in the U.S. than any other provider in 2014, according to GTM Research’s U.S. PV Leaderboard Q1 2015. We entered 2015 as the largest full-service solar provider in the country by a wide margin with a cumulative capacity of more than 1 GW deployed. As a result of this success, SolarCity has raised funds to finance more than $8 billion in solar projects with investments from a number of leading financial institutions and corporations (as of May 28, 2015), reducing financial dependency risks and uncertainty for our customers. SolarCity’s commitment to innovation and our focus on project management set us apart from our competitors. SolarCity develops industry-leading products, such as our Zep Solar mounting technology, which enables faster and safer installs. We are also constantly refining our processes to increase efficiency and bring down costs. Recently, we started performing commercial installations with our own SolarCity crews (as opposed to using subcontractors, which is typical of the commercial solar industry.) Through the combination of using our in-house crews and Zep mounting hardware, we are able to dramatically reduce installation times for our clients. Even when SolarCity engages with subcontractors for installation, we are always in position of sole manager. SolarCity takes sole responsibility in the project financing, site audit, system design and engineering, project and construction management, site safety, environmental issues and permitting, and interconnection. This allows us complete control not only over the schedule and phasing process but also—and more importantly—the quality and safety of work.

Photo of SolarCity’s Proprietary ZS Peak (Zep Solar) Racking


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SolarCity’s Price Proposal SolarCity helps you lower your energy bill from day one with our [Solar Power Purchase Agreement

Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

A PPA helps you save money from day one: • Buy solar power with little to no upfront cost and only pay for the power the system generates. • Secure a predictable rate that’s usually less than market rate from your utility company. • Protect yourself from volatile utility rate increases over a 20-year period as your SolarCity electricity rate is

stable over the 20-year term of the contract. • SolarCity installs, maintains, owns, and guarantees the performance of the solar system, which means the

schools do not have to pay any maintenance costs.

A brief overview of proposed pricing is shown below. We believe that these prices provide a long-term physical hedge against rising and volatile energy prices, backed by the comfort of working with the nation’s leading provider of clean energy services.

Proposed Project Name Size

(kWdc) Yield

(kWh/kW) Total 1st year

kWh PPA rate/kWh 0% Escalator

Kemptown Elementary School 2770 1359 3,775,000 .053

• 100% Performance Guarantee included, please see Performance Guarantee section for more information

• PPA term length: 20 years.

Preliminary System Design Kemptown Elementary School


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SolarCity’s proposed preliminary design utilizes Trina 310 PV modules mounted On the ground on a parcel next to Kemptown Elementary School. We will utilize a ground mounted racking system from RBI. The modules will be wired in 18V strings to Fronius inverters distributed through the array area. AC output wiring from the inverters will be installed in conduit and combined in panel boards located throughout the array field in groups. On our site walk at Kemptown Elementary, SolarCity determined that the electrical system at Kemptown Elementary is currently a 2000 amp panel. In order to build this array, SolarCity will need to upgrade the current panel to a 3000 amp panel. In addition, SolarCity will need to step up the power to 13-2, then step down to 480, to be utilized by the school. These are common upgrades for a system of this size. The costs for these upgrades are all included in the current PPA rate offered to FCPS for this project. Feel free to call with further details on this upgrade. It would certainly be performed at a time selected by the school, so not to interfere with school operations. A summary of the proposed equipment is provided in the table below. SolarCity is constantly innovating our own internal products and simultaneously searching the market for the best available equipment; as such, we may install equipment different than described here, but any changes would be only for comparable or better performing equipment.

Design Summary

PROPOSED DESIGN kWDC 2,770 kW DC Module Model Trina 310 Module Power (W) 310 W Module Racking Method and Supplier RBI

Inverter Model Fronius 24kW MWh/year 1 3775 MWh/year 1 kWh/kW year 1 3,775,000 kWh/kW


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Preliminary Layout


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SolarCity Stability

As a publicly-traded entity (NASDAQ: SCTY), we are financially robust with long-lasting fiscal resources, ensuring SolarCity is both stable and here for the lifetime of the system. Through our PPA and lease options, we establish multi-year contracts that provide energy savings to our customers and give SolarCity a long-term stream of revenue. Similar to a traditional power utility business model, this revenue stream is highly reliable and continues to grow as our customer base increases. Financial Strength and Asset Securitization: When a customer signs an agreement with SolarCity, they’re joining us in a partnership backed by the largest and most trusted financial institutions in the world. Similar to mortgages and automobile loans, our agreements are backed by large, trustworthy financial institutions that are deeply incentivized to take over the operations, maintenance and continued productivity of our solar systems in the unlikely event SolarCity is unable to perform. Banks and other investment institutions perform rigorous evaluations before making any investment. SolarCity’s balance sheet and installation experience have met the strict bankability standards of various financial institutions. Mitigating Project Initiation Risk: Unlike some of our competitors that raise financing on a per-project basis, SolarCity typically has project financing funds readily available to begin construction without delay. We can start building once permits are secured and contracts are signed. A portion of our existing financial funds is solely dedicated to commercial solar projects. Our in-house financing processing will expedite the installation of the FCPS projects, speeding up the schools energy cost savings. Adaptability: SolarCity can readily adapt to changes in the marketplace. We continue to focus our capital expenditures on the growth of the company, installation and financing of PV systems. SolarCity recently acquired Zep Solar in 2013 and Silevo in 2014. Controlling these two companies enables SolarCity to achieve significant cost reductions through the combination of advanced technology and economies of scale. SolarCity’s Detailed Financial Report: Pursuant to SEC regulations, SolarCity regularly releases relevant financial and operating information. Our audited financial statements, annual reports, consolidated financials, and our 10-K are all available on our investor web page at: http://investors.solarcity.com/sec.cfm.


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http://investors.solarcity.com/sec.cfm


SolarCity 3.2 MW installation for MillerCoors in Irwindale, CA

Monitoring SolarCity remotely monitors all of our installed solar electric systems for the purpose of analyzing each system's performance. Our proprietary monitoring system is an industry-leader that can help FCPS save money by providing energy data which can inform smarter choices on how and when electricity is used at each facility.

Accurate Tracking of Financial Performance Our monitoring system utilizes revenue-grade equipment with energy monitoring capabilities that are accurate to within two-tenths of a percent of actual production, which meet stringent utility and investor reporting requirements. The high level of accuracy ensures that our customers realize the full financial benefits of their solar system. Monitoring data is stored for the life of the system on a secure server with regular backup to ensure accountability.

SolarCity 650 kW rooftop installation for eBay in San Jose, CA

Real-time Energy Tracking Every 15 minutes, the system records information from our installations and transmits it to SolarCity’s central headquarters and data servers. In addition to recording PV system production, our proprietary monitoring system can capture the total amount of energy used at each meter if site layout and system design allow. Consumption monitoring enables the School to map its energy usage patterns and adjust consumption accordingly. SolarCity’s proprietary monitoring system provides access to the following data and capabilities:

• PV system production (kWh) • AC voltage • AC current

Fully-integrated Customer Support Energy production data collected from each solar system is stored in a central database. System-wide failures are reported by a sweep of that data every three hours, and abnormalities are evaluated and identified for service calls


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as required. Action is taken to promptly resolve any issues, and we can generally dispatch a tech onsite within 24 hours of detecting a problem. The seamless integration of our monitoring system, Systems Diagnostics, and Field Service Technicians helps ensure that your PV system performs optimally and that we provide our customers with the highest level of support. Visualize Your Production at Any Time Monitoring data is available to customers through an online web interface, accessible from any computer or mobile device. Our proprietary monitoring system’s interface allows visualization of the data in the following increments: 30 minutes, hour, day, week, month, and each year of system operation. The online interface also enables users to export all available data in 15-minute increments in Excel or ASCII comma separated format for detailed analysis.

Legend:

My Solar Energy Production


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Operations and Maintenance SolarCity’s commitment to our customers extends beyond the point where their systems begin to produce energy. We understand that the ability to enjoy the benefits of clean energy depends on the ability of the solar system to perform at an optimum level. With that in mind, SolarCity has developed a comprehensive operations and maintenance (O&M) plan to ensure that all of our systems achieve the highest kWh output over their lifetime. SolarCity does not simply build a system and then walk away. Rather, we enter into partnerships with our customers that last for years, ensuring their success as well as our own. O&M is included in our PPA and leases at no additional cost. Our O&M program revolves around our ability to closely monitor system output 24 hours a day. Our in-house monitoring tool allows our monitoring team to determine when a system is performing below expectations or goes off-line. In the event that a system’s performance is largely impaired, SolarCity will notify the customer and, if necessary, alert the appropriate Project Manager who will attempt to resolve the issue on-site. SolarCity Field Technicians aim to respond in less than 48 hours.

All O&M activity on School sites will be performed in accordance with standard safety procedures and applicable codes. Qualified technicians will perform comprehensive tests and inspections on an annual basis to ensure the proper operation of the system. SolarCity maintains a robust O&M program with which all of our installations teams are familiar. This program is described in our O&M manual, which covers the following:

Preventative Maintenance Frequency: As Scheduled

General Inspection - A full visual and physical inspection of all system components and their immediate surroundings carried out in accordance with inspection checklists. Structure Maintenance - Necessary preventive maintenance may be performed on the system’s structural components to ensure continued safe and effective operation. Electrical System Testing - Troubleshooting of all electrical components will be performed through standard electrical test methods to isolate and verify performance of each component through voltage, current, resistance and continuity tests.

Corrective Maintenance (Troubleshooting and Repair) Frequency: As Necessary

Troubleshooting – Remote diagnostics to determine the symptoms or root cause of equipment failure. If on-site troubleshooting is required, SolarCity will dispatch a team. Solution Verification – SolarCity will test and confirm the solution is working to the specifications of the contract. Low Performance and Hardware Failure – Replacement of failed components based on workmanship or manufacturer’s warranty

Corrective Maintenance Frequency: Per Occurrence

Inspection Checklist – Ensures all aspects of the system are in proper working order.


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Energy Performance Guarantee SolarCity is pleased to provide FCPS with a 100% Production Performance Guarantee at no additional cost. We guarantee the School systems will produce 100% of the estimated kWh production of the final system design. As a confirmation of our commitment to keeping the system in good working order, we’ll pay the school] a fee on a $/kWh basis for any production shortfalls. Both SolarCity and FCPS benefit from the systems producing the designed kWh. How it Works

SolarCity will use industry-standard modeling data and tools to create an energy production estimate based on the as-built conditions of each PV system after construction is complete. Throughout the contract term, SolarCity will monitor the system to verify that it is operating properly. At regular 5-year intervals, known as “true-up terms”, SolarCity will compare the total expected kWh energy production with the actual production of the system. In the event that performance does not match expectations, SolarCity will reimburse the schools at the rate agreed to in the Performance Guarantee contract. The expected output of the PV system, including the adjusted production values for normal degradation, and the guaranteed energy price are recorded in the Performance Guarantee contract. The five year true-up term is designed to account for normal weather fluctuations without the need for expensive and unreliable meteorological monitoring equipment at each site. It also eliminates the need for the complex calculations required to adjust expected system performance to match actual weather conditions. This approach to weather adjustment significantly simplifies the accounting burden for our customers.

Type of Agreement PPA Lease Agreement

Guaranteed Production 100% 100%

True-Up Term 5 years 5 years

Maximum Duration 20 years 20 years

Example Scenario – Power Purchase Agreement In the PPA scenario below, the system had a production shortfall of 50,000 kWh during the first true-up term; therefore, SolarCity will reimburse the customer for the loss of production. In the following scenario, we’ve set a $0.02/kWh rate for the guaranteed energy price. In actuality, the guaranteed energy price will vary depending on site conditions and will be agreed upon prior to finalizing the Performance Guarantee contract. The amount reimbursed to the customer at the end of the true-up term is determined by multiplying the guaranteed energy price by the production shortfall.

𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 𝐸𝐸𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺 𝑥𝑥 𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺 𝑆𝑆ℎ𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑜𝑜𝐺𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑃𝑃𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 𝑅𝑅𝐺𝐺𝑃𝑃𝐴𝐴𝑅𝑅𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑅𝑅𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 In this case, the payout to the customer for the first true-up term would be $1,000.

$0.02/𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘ℎ 𝑥𝑥 50,000𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘ℎ = $1,000

PPA Scenario

True-Up Term

Example Guaranteed

True-Up (kWh)

Example Actual True-Up

(kWh)

Production Shortfall

(kW)

Guaranteed Energy Price

($/kWh)

Example Payment to FCPS

Years 1-5 1,000,000 950,000 50,000 $0.02 $1,000.00


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A 250kW/500kWh battery system

Appendix A: DemandLogic Overview SolarCity is pleased to offer Frederick County Public Schools, the opportunity to save even more on your electricity costs by integrating battery storage into your solar projects. Battery storage optimizes the technical and financial performance of a solar system and offers the opportunity to maximize savings, above and beyond what is possible with a “solar-only” system, by reliably reducing expensive demand charges. Parallel to SolarCity’s Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”), DemandLogic requires $0 upfront investment, generating immediate savings by selling demand reduction capabilities at a rate below what is charged by the local distribution utility for demand. Additionally, SolarCity’s rate is locked in for the project term, while utility costs will likely remain volatile and continue to increase. Finally, SolarCity guarantees DemandLogic’s performance, such that if the system were to underperform, SolarCity would recompense the schools for any shortfall. Underlying Technology DemandLogic evolved from SolarCity’s long-term collaboration with Tesla Motors to develop stationary energy storage projects for a variety of applications. The underlying technology embodied in the stationary storage systems is the same lithium-ion battery used in Tesla’s Model S vehicle. Lithium-ion batteries are a widely field-proven technology, virtually ubiquitous in consumer electronics. The specific cell used by Tesla in these energy storage systems is also the power source for over 40,000 Tesla vehicles on the road, which have completed over 500 million miles of driving, and received the highest safety rating of any vehicle in history from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The Tesla hardware is controlled by a proprietary SolarCity software suite, which dynamically charges and discharges the battery system to reduce periods of high electrical demand. On a continuous basis, SolarCity meters the generation of the solar system, as well as the native load of the site, and proactively discharges the battery if a 15-minute interval is tracking to be the highest in the billing period, effectively reducing billable demand. How DemandLogic Generates Value Electric utilities often charge for both the quantity of energy consumed (measured in kWhs), as well as the maximum rate at which energy is consumed (“demand”, measured in kWs). Demand is typically measured on a 15-minute basis, and facilities are billed for the single highest measurement in a billing period (meaning there are 3,000+ intervals in a billing period). Consequently, it is impractical to assume that conventional load management, or even installing a behind-the-meter solar project, can effectively reduce demand charges significantly or reliably. However, by integrating battery storage along with solar, the combined system can reliably reduce demand charges. With DemandLogic, you can save both on $/kWh as well as $/kW costs from the local utility, maximizing savings. Financing and Contracting for DemandLogic As a leader in renewable energy financing, SolarCity has multiple funds available to deploy DemandLogic projects. Rather than contracting for separate solar and energy storage projects, SolarCity’s DemandLogic is financed under the same vehicle, and contracted under a single agreement; a rarity amongst competing energy storage solutions. Integrating DemandLogic into a conventional solar project requires the addition of a simple, 1-page Exhibit to a conventional solar Power Purchase Agreement. Getting Started SolarCity can quickly evaluate the benefits of DemandLogic for your project. By providing 12 months of 15-minute interval data, and a recent copy of the local utilities’ bill, FCPS, enables SolarCity to quantify what demand reductions and savings are possible.


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Town of Glastonbury

Client Name Town of Glastonbury Glastonbury, CT

Installation Size 1184 kW

Application Type Ground-mount, Roof-mount, Solar Support Structures

Year of Completion Multiple sites between 2013-2015

Project Description

Looking to lower the Town’s energy costs and provide valuable protection against future utility price increases, Glastonbury turned to SolarCity for clean, more affordable energy. Glastonbury partnered with SolarCity to evaluate the Town’s energy consumption and overall energy needs, and strategically place solar array in locations most beneficial for a savings and safety approach. The Town started with three projects at their Town Hall, high school, and maintenance yard, and later expanded their solar portfolio to include installations at two elementary schools, the bus yard, and a parks and recreation facility.

Through a SolarCity Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Glastonbury avoided paying any money upfront for their solar systems and instead buys the solar power created by the panels at a discount to what they pay for utility power. The agreement is expected to save Glastonbury taxpayers more than $100,000 per year—savings that will run in the millions over the course of the 20-year agreement.


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Burton School District

Client Name Burton School District Porterville, CA

Installation Size 1.47 MW

Application Type Carport

Year of Completion 2015

Project Description

In May 2015, Burton School District made the switch to clean energy by partnering with SolarCity to build a solar system paired with DemandLogic™, a smart energy storage system that reduces energy costs by using stored electricity to lower peak demand. SolarCity installed the system, at no cost to the district, across eight elementary and middle schools—as well as additional solar production at a district office. The installations total more than 1.8 megawatts of solar energy capacity. Utilizing funds for Prop 39—money allocated for sustainable energy projects—the District purchased SolarCity’s state-of-the-art battery storage technology, providing an additional 360 kilowatts (720 kilowatt hours) to reduce peak demand. With a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the district will only pay for the energy the system produces, at a rate less than what is offered by the local utility company. The new solar systems are expected to save the district more than $6 million over the lifetime of the agreement, and DemandLogic could save thousands more on demand charges each year. The systems are expected to generate 2.8 million kilowatt hours of solar energy annually, and enough over the life of the contract to power more than 4,700 homes for a year.


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Millbrook School

Client Name Millbrook School Millbrook, NY

Installation Size 1.7 MW

Application Type Ground-mount

Year of Completion 2014

Project Description

For Millbrook School in Millbrook, NY, environmental sustainability and conservation are central to the school’s core values. In fact, the school is committed to becoming completely carbon neutral by 2020, and has a history of energy-efficient building design and environmental stewardship projects The 1.7-megawatt system, which SolarCity will own, operate and maintain over the course of a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA), includes 5,852 ground-mounted panels on what had previously been underutilized school land. Millbrook is purchasing energy generated by the system, which in the first year is expected to be about 2.1 million kWh. The school uses just under 2 million kWh to power the entire campus. With the PPA, Millbrook expects to save between $22,000 and $30,000 in the first year of operation alone, and plans to allocate that savings to a revolving fund that will help pay for other energy efficiency projects to further reduce the school’s carbon footprint.


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DIRECTV

Client Name DIRECTV Long Beach, CA

Installation Size 1 MW Application Type Ground-mount

Project Description

In 2015, DIRECTV entered into a 10-year Power Purchase agreement with SolarCity which allows them to pay for clean energy at a discount to utility power and enjoy low, predictable solar energy rates for the lifetime of the system. DIRECTV’s new one-megawatt solar array in Long Beach will power the California Broadcast Center, one of DIRECTV’s largest energy consuming facilities, which supports a large percentage of its Latin American customers. The ground-mount solar system is expected to generate enough renewable solar electricity over its lifetime to power the equivalent of over 1,400 typical homes for a year and deliver important environmental benefits to the Long Beach region and residents of Los Angeles County. It is expected to prevent more than 15.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere over its lifetime, which is equivalent to taking over 1,350 cars off the road for a year. It is also expected to save nearly 73 million gallons of water that would otherwise be consumed in the production of electricity from fossil fuel or nuclear sources.5

5 Environmental calculations are based on data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, with a system lifetime estimate of 10 years


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Page 1/424/09/15PVSYST V6.35

Grid-Connected System: Simulation parameters

PVsyst Licensed to SolarCity Corporation (United States)

Project : Frederick County Public Schools

Geographical SiteWashington Dc Dulles Int'l Ar [sterling - Isis] Country United States

Situation Latitude 39.0°N Longitude 77.5°WTime defined as Legal Time Time zone UT-5 Altitude 82 m

Monthly albedo values

Albedo

Jan.

0.55

Feb.

0.55

Mar.

0.20

Apr.

0.20

May

0.20

June

0.20

July

0.20

Aug.

0.20

Sep.

0.20

Oct.

0.20

Nov.

0.20

Dec.

0.20

Meteo data: Washington Dc Dulles Int'l Ar [sterling - Isis] TMY - NREL: TMY3 hourly DB (1991-2005)

Simulation variant : Kemptown Elementary - Trina 310W - Fronius 24kW - 25 deg tilt

Simulation date 24/09/15 10h10

Simulation parameters

Collector Plane Orientation Tilt 25° Azimuth 0°

50 Sheds Pitch 7.26 m Collector width 3.94 mInactive band Top 0.02 m Bottom 0.02 mShading limit angle Gamma 24.51 ° Occupation Ratio 54.3 %

Models used Transposition Perez Diffuse Imported

Horizon Free Horizon

Near Shadings Mutual shadings of sheds

PV Array CharacteristicsPV module Si-poly Model TSM-310 PD14 2014_05

Manufacturer Trina Solar

Number of PV modules In series 18 modules In parallel 498 stringsTotal number of PV modules Nb. modules 8964 Unit Nom. Power 310 WpArray global power Nominal (STC) 2779 kWp At operating cond. 2489 kWp (50°C)Array operating characteristics (50°C) U mpp 592 V I mpp 4208 ATotal area Module area 17393 m²

Inverter Model Symo 24.0-3 / 480 Single MPPTManufacturer Fronius USA

Characteristics Operating Voltage 200-800 V Unit Nom. Power 24.0 kWac

Inverter pack Nb. of inverters 83 units Total Power 1992 kWac

PV Array loss factors

Array Soiling Losses Loss Fraction 2.0 %Jan.

6.0%

Feb.

6.0%

Mar.

2.0%

Apr.

2.0%

May

2.0%

June

2.0%

July

2.0%

Aug.

2.0%

Sep.

2.0%

Oct.

2.0%

Nov.

2.0%

Dec.

2.0%

Thermal Loss factor Uc (const) 29.0 W/m²K Uv (wind) 0.0 W/m²K / m/s

Page 2/424/09/15PVSYST V6.35

Grid-Connected System: Simulation parameters (continued)


Wiring Ohmic Loss Global array res. 1.6 mOhm Loss Fraction 1.0 % at STC

LID - Light Induced Degradation Loss Fraction 1.0 %Module Quality Loss Loss Fraction -0.8 %Module Mismatch Losses Loss Fraction 1.0 % at MPPIncidence effect, ASHRAE parametrization IAM = 1 - bo (1/cos i - 1) bo Param. 0.05

System loss factorsAC wire loss inverter to transfo Inverter voltage 277 Vac tri

Wires 99 m 3x4000.0 mm² Loss Fraction 1.6 % at STCExternal transformer Iron loss (24H connexion) 2719 W Loss Fraction 0.1 % at STC

Resistive/Inductive losses 0.7 mOhm Loss Fraction 2.4 % at STC

Unavailability of the system 3.6 days, 1 periods Time fraction 1.0 %

User's needs : Unlimited load (grid)

Page 3/424/09/15PVSYST V6.35

Grid-Connected System: Main results




Main system parameters System type Grid-ConnectedPV Field Orientation Sheds disposition, tilt 25° azimuth 0°PV modules Model TSM-310 PD14 2014_05 Pnom 310 WpPV Array Nb. of modules 8964 Pnom total 2779 kWpInverter Model Symo 24.0-3 / 480 Single MPPT 24.00 kW acInverter pack Nb. of units 83.0 Pnom total 1992 kW acUser's needs Unlimited load (grid)

Main simulation resultsSystem Production Produced Energy 3775 MWh/year Specific prod. 1359 kWh/kWp/year

Performance Ratio PR 80.4 %

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Nor

mal

ized

Ene

rgy

[kW

h/kW

p/da

y]

Normalized productions (per installed kWp): Nominal power 2779 kWp

Yf : Produced useful energy (inverter output) 3.72 kWh/kWp/dayLs : System Loss (inverter, ...) 0.25 kWh/kWp/dayLc : Collection Loss (PV-array losses) 0.65 kWh/kWp/day

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0Pe

rfor

man

ce R

atio

PRPerformance Ratio PR

PR : Performance Ratio (Yf / Yr) : 0.804

Kemptown Elementary - Trina 310W - Fronius 24kW - 25 deg tilt

Balances and main results

GlobHor T Amb GlobInc GlobEff EArray E_Grid EffArrR EffSysR

kWh/m² °C kWh/m² kWh/m² MWh MWh % %

January 59.7 0.56 89.1 76.9 221.2 210.2 14.28 13.57

February 83.2 1.61 112.2 98.3 274.3 261.0 14.05 13.37

March 125.3 7.73 150.7 139.9 363.2 345.6 13.86 13.19

April 152.8 12.46 163.9 151.8 383.6 305.9 13.46 10.73

May 174.6 18.17 174.8 161.0 406.0 387.0 13.35 12.73

June 182.6 22.52 177.9 164.0 411.7 391.7 13.31 12.66

July 183.9 24.52 181.3 166.5 416.6 396.6 13.21 12.58

August 160.5 22.99 168.9 156.1 394.8 375.6 13.44 12.79

September 130.1 20.11 148.1 137.0 347.6 330.9 13.49 12.85

October 101.4 11.91 133.3 124.2 328.8 312.4 14.18 13.48

November 68.0 7.82 97.2 89.0 246.3 234.4 14.57 13.87

December 59.1 0.98 91.9 82.3 235.7 224.0 14.75 14.02

Year 1481.1 12.67 1689.2 1547.0 4029.8 3775.4 13.72 12.85

Legends: GlobHor Horizontal global irradiation

T Amb Ambient Temperature

GlobInc Global incident in coll. plane

GlobEff Effective Global, corr. for IAM and shadings

EArray Effective energy at the output of the array

E_Grid Energy injected into grid

EffArrR Effic. Eout array / rough area

EffSysR Effic. Eout system / rough area

Page 4/424/09/15PVSYST V6.35

Grid-Connected System: Loss diagram




Main system parameters System type Grid-ConnectedPV Field Orientation Sheds disposition, tilt 25° azimuth 0°PV modules Model TSM-310 PD14 2014_05 Pnom 310 WpPV Array Nb. of modules 8964 Pnom total 2779 kWpInverter Model Symo 24.0-3 / 480 Single MPPT 24.00 kW acInverter pack Nb. of units 83.0 Pnom total 1992 kW acUser's needs Unlimited load (grid)

Loss diagram over the whole year

Horizontal global irradiation1481 kWh/m²

+14.0% Global incident in coll. plane

-3.4% Near Shadings: irradiance loss

-2.8% IAM factor on global

-2.5% Soiling loss factor

Effective irradiance on collectors1547 kWh/m² * 17393 m² coll.

efficiency at STC = 15.98% PV conversion

Array nominal energy (at STC effic.)4300497 kWh

+0.9% PV loss due to irradiance level

-3.6% PV loss due to temperature

+0.8% Module quality loss

-1.0% LID - Light induced degradation

-1.0% Module array mismatch loss

-0.6% Ohmic wiring loss

Array virtual energy at MPP4105958 kWh

-2.2% Inverter Loss during operation (efficiency)

-1.9% Inverter Loss over nominal inv. power

0.0% Inverter Loss due to power threshold

0.0% Inverter Loss over nominal inv. voltage

0.0% Inverter Loss due to voltage threshold

Available Energy at Inverter Output3940512 kWh

-1.5% System unavailability

-0.8% AC ohmic loss

-1.9% External transfo loss

Energy injected into grid3775409 kWh

Solar Energy Curriculum and Hands-On Learning

Through NEED, SolarCity is able to provide clients discounted lesson plans and educational materials for all grade levels; centered on the science of energy, sources of energy, electricity and transportation, and efficiency and conservation. This curriculum provides a broad overview of energy studies to teachers and students alike, as well as hands-on experiments for enhanced learning. SolarCity’s proprietary monitoring system allows students to deeply explore and analyze the energy production of their school’s solar system. Exploring the monitoring system data is a fun way to educate students about the benefits of going solar without additional equipment.

State and National Education Credentialed

Each lesson plan was created by educators and energy advisors and is reviewed annually by NEED’s Teacher Advisory Board and state NEED Teacher Advisory Boards for objectivity, applicability, and content. All materials are correlated to meet state education standards and support the achievement of the goals of Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core.

Afterschool Programs

NEED’s curriculum is very successful in the afterschool environment. NEED will assist in training program leaders to host solar camps for students interested in learning more about solar energy. This is a great way to develop student leaders and have peers teaching peers.

In-Person Training and Support Line

NEED offers in-person teacher training workshops on behalf of SolarCity to help schools get started. Designed for up to 50 teachers, the workshops cover curriculum materials and resources available from the program. Workshops can be arranged for full-day or afterschool sessions, and include meals and snacks for participants. Substitute pay/stipends are also provided to districts and teachers if needed. Teachers with curriculum questions or in need of assistance will also have access to NEED support help directly via phone and email.

Educational Resources for Faculty and Students

An on-site solar photovoltaic system offers a great educational opportunity for students. That is why SolarCity has teamed up with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project to provide certified curricula on solar energy for grade levels K-12. Together we are able to bridge the gap between project deployment and student engagement.

6 Energy From the Sun

Concentrating Solar Power SystemsConcentrating solar power (CSP) systems also use solar energy to make electricity. Since the solar radiation that reaches the Earth is so spread out, it must be concentrated to produce the high temperatures required to generate electricity using a steam turbine. There are three types of systems that use mirrors or other reflecting surfaces to concentrate the sun’s energy, increasing its intensity.

Linear concentrating systems use mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto receivers located just above the mirrors. The receivers are long tubes that carry either water that is directly converted to steam or fluid that transfers energy in a heat exchanger, which produces steam. The steam drives a turbine that turns a generator to make electricity. Linear concentrating systems are either parabolic trough systems, or linear Fresnel reflector systems.

Parabolic trough systems use long, curved mirrors in troughs that focus the sunlight onto a pipe located at the focal line. A fluid circulating inside the pipe collects the energy and transfers it to a heat exchanger, producing steam to drive a conventional turbine. The world’s largest parabolic trough is located in the Mojave Desert in California. This plant has a total generating capacity of 354 megawatts, one-third the size of a large nuclear power plant. Five to ten acres of parabolic troughs are needed to produce one megawatt of electricity.

Linear Fresnel reflector systems use several flat mirrors in groups to concentrate the sun onto a tube receiver above them. This arrangement allows the mirrors to better track the sun’s position for maximum reflection. The first linear Fresnel reflector system is generating 5 megawatts of electricity in Bakersfield, CA.

While parabolic trough systems are the most common in the United States, there are advantages and disadvantages to both systems. Parabolic trough systems are proven and have excellent performance. However, the parabolic mirrors are expensive to manufacture and the power plants require large amounts of land. Linear Fresnel reflector systems use mirrors that are easier and cheaper to manufacture. However, the performance of linear Fresnel reflector system does not yet match that of parabolic troughs.

A solar power tower consists of a large field of sun tracking mirrors that focus solar energy on a receiver at the top of a centrally located tower. The enormous amount of energy in the sun’s rays concentrated at one point on the tower can produce temperatures over 500 degrees Celsius. The thermal energy is used for heating water or molten salt that saves the energy for later use. In a heat exchanger, the hot water or molten salt heats the water and changes it to steam that is used to move the turbine generator.

Dish/engine systems are like satellite dishes that concentrate sunlight rather than signals, with a heat engine located at the focal point to generate electricity. These generators can be small, mobile units that can be operated individually or in clusters, in urban and remote locations.

DISh/ENGINE SYSTEM

lINEAR FRESNEl REFlECToRS

Photos courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Solar Power Tower

ROTATING MIRRORSfocus sunlightonto receiver panel.

RECEIVER PANELhas �uid insidethat collects heat.

©2012 The NEED Project P.O. Box 10101, Manassas, VA 20108 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org

3

What is Solar Energy?

Every day, the sun radiates (sends out) an enormous amount of

energy. It radiates enough energy in one second to melt a bridge

of ice two miles wide and one mile thick, that extends from the

Earth to the sun. Solar energy is a renewable energy source.

The sun’s energy comes from within the sun itself. Like most stars,

the sun is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium atoms in

a plasma state. The sun generates energy from a process called

nuclear fusion.

During nuclear fusion, the high pressure and temperature in

the sun’s core causes hydrogen (H) atoms to separate from their

electrons. Hydrogen nuclei (the centers of the atoms) combine,

or fuse, to form helium nuclei. During the fusion process, radiant

energy is released. It takes thousands of years for the radiant

energy in the sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, and

then just a little over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to

Earth. The radiant energy travels to the Earth at a speed of 186,000

miles per second, the speed of light.

Only a small portion of the energy radiated by the sun into space

strikes the Earth, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy

is enormous. Every day enough energy strikes the United States to

supply the nation’s energy needs for one and a half years. About

30 percent of the radiant energy that reaches the Earth is reflected

back into space. About half of radiant energy is absorbed by land

and oceans. The rest is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds.

In addition to supplying a large amount of energy directly, the

sun is also the source for many different forms of energy. Solar

energy powers the water cycle, allowing us to harness the energy

of moving water. Solar energy drives wind formation, allowing us

to use wind turbines to transform kinetic energy into electricity.

Plants use solar energy in the process of photosynthesis. Biomass

can trace its energy source back to the sun. Even fossil fuels

originally received their energy from the sun.

Energy From the Sun

FusionThe process of fusion most commonly involves hydrogen isotopes combining to

form a helium atom with a transformation of matter. This matter is emitted as

radiant energy.

Hydrogen Isotope

Hydrogen Isotope

Neutron

Helium

Energy

RADIANT ENERGY

SUN Atmosphere

HEAT

HEAT

EARTH

The Greenhouse E�ect

Radiant energy (light rays) shines on the Earth. Some radiant energy

reaches the atmosphere and is reflected back into space. Some

radiant energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and is transformed

into heat (dark arrows).

Half of the radiant energy that is directed at Earth passes through

the atmosphere and reaches the Earth, where it is transformed into

heat.

The Earth absorbs some of this heat, but most of the heat flows back

into the air. The atmosphere traps the heat. Very little of the heat

escapes back into space. The trapped heat flows back to the Earth.

This is called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect keeps

the Earth at a temperature that supports life.

888.SOL.CITY | 888.765.2489 | SOLARCITY.COM

About Need

The mission of The NEED Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, and business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs. Since 1980, NEED has worked with partners across the United States to help teachers and students increase their energy knowledge, consider energy career paths, and teach local communities about energy and energy issues. Working in partnership with the U.S. Energy Information Administration, NEED includes easy-to-understand data in their curriculum materials for teachers and students. NEED’s training and curricula are correlated to Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards. NEED believes in a Kids Teaching Kids approach that engages, excites and educates all students in all grade levels. And their teachers, too.

Energy Curriculum $300 per classroom

Solar Monitoring Accompanying Guide

Solar Curriculum $350 per classroom

Free for SolarCity Customers

Training Solar Camps / Afterschool Programs

Science of Energy (Primary and Secondary)

Schools Going Solar (All levels)

The Sun and Its Energy (Grades K-2) Wonders of the Sun (Grades 3-5) Energy from the Sun (Grades 6-8) Exploring Photovoltaics (Grades 9-12)

One-Day Workshop (With substitute reimbursement) One-Day Workshop (Without substitute reimbursement) Half-Day Workshop

$8,000

$4,000

$2,500

One Day Week-long

$2,000 $10,000

These guides include background information and hands-on experiments to explore the different forms of energy and how energy is transformed from one form to another. Groups of students master six stations, then teach others about the energy transformations at their stations. Teacher demonstrations are included to introduce the unit. Reinforcement activities are also included. The stations include equipment to teach transformations focusing on kinetic and potential energy, heat, light, motors, batteries, and electromagnetism.

This accompanying guide to solar curriculum provides lessons and activities to support and incorporate data from installed photovoltaic systems into the classroom learning environment.

NEED offers teacher training for up to 50 teachers, covering curriculum materials and resources available from the program. Substitute pay/stipends are provided to the district/teachers if needed.

NEED’s curriculum is very successful in the afterschool environment. NEED will assist in training afterschool program leaders to host solar camps for students interested in learning more about solar energy.

Primary students are introduced to solar energy with a read-aloud book and classroom-based activities. Students will learn that the sun’s energy produces light, transforms to heat, powers the water cycle, produces wind, and that solar cells convert radiant energy into electricity. The kit includes a Teacher Guide and the materials necessary to conduct the activities.

Elementary students develop a basic understanding of solar energy through background reading and classroom activities. Hands-on activities demonstrate solar energy transformations into kinetic energy, thermal energy, chemical energy, and electricity. The kit includes a Teacher Guide, a class set of Student Guides, and the materials necessary to conduct the activities.

Intermediate students learn about solar energy through investigations that explore radiant energy transforming into thermal energy, kinetic energy, chemical energy, and electricity. The kit includes a Teacher Guide, a class set of Student Guides, and the materials necessary to conduct the activities.

Secondary students learn how solar energy is used to generate electricity. Students are introduced to photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power, and developing solar technologies. Activities explore how photovoltaic cells work and what variables affect their electrical output.

Training, breakfast, lunch

Training, breakfast, lunch Training, snacks

THE NEED PROJECT | 800.875.5029 | [email protected] | WWW.NEED.ORG

Key facts

Location Queen Anne’s County, MD

Project size3.54 MW

Est. Annual electricity production4.8 million kWh

Est. Lifetime savings$6.2 million*

“Together, with companies like SolarCity, we’re building a stronger, more innovative new energy economy in Maryland.”

—Martin O’Malley Governor of Maryland

Queen Anne’s County mary l and

SolarCity Brings Clean Energy to the Eastern ShoreQueen Anne’s County has turned to the sun for cleaner and more affordable energy. By partnering with SolarCity, the county was able to install 13,619 panels (approximately 3.54 megawatts) on 20 acres of land that was previously underutilized. The large, ground-mounted system produces enough energy to fully power five county facilities: the Department of Emergency Services, Grasonville Elementary, Department of Public Works, Department of Correction, the Liberty Building and Health Department. The Kent Island Wastewater Plant uses any remaining energy produced by the solar array.

“With the addition of three more megawatts of solar energy from the Eastern Shore, we’re closer to a more resilient grid and even closer to reaching our goal of achieving 20% of in-state renewable generation by 2022,” said Governor Martin O’Malley.

Solar Power Generates Millions in Savings The installation is expected to save the county approximately $350,000* each year—adding up to $6.2 million* in savings over the lifetime of the contract.

The project is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that lets the county generate clean energy with no upfront costs and low solar rates that are guaranteed for the next 20 years. Since it is a lease agreement, SolarCity covers all repairs and insurance.

“Not only could the county save approximately $6.2 million* during the life of the project, but those savings (andwvw the great benefits to the environment) are being achieved with no upfront cost to county taxpayers,” said Queen Anne’s County Sustainability Council Member Alex Likowski. “The project is a model for every county and major municipality in Maryland.”

888.sol.city | 888.765.2489 | solarcity.com

*Expected savings are estimates based on SolarCity’s solar power rates compared to current electricity usage at Queen Anne’s County sites, current utility power costs and predicted future utility power costs. AZ ROC 243771/ROC 245450/ROC 277498, CA LIC#888104, CO EC8041, CT HIC 0632778/ELC 0125305, DC #71101486/ECC902585, DE CNR 2011120386, HI CT-29770, MA HIC 168572/MA LIC. MR-1136, MD MHIC 128948, NJ NJHIC#13VH06160600/34EB01732700, OR CB180498/C562/PB1102, PA HICPA077343, TX TECL27006, WA SOLARC*91901/SOLARC*905P7. © SolarCity Corporation. All rights reserved.

K E Y F A C T Slocation Centreville, MD

project size

1 MW

est. annual electricity production

1.3 million kWh

est. lifetime savings

$1,000,000+*

“As Thomas Edison once said, ‘I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.’ Now, 59 years later, I’m proud to see Centreville activating two solar arrays at Waste Water Spray Irrigation Facility.”

–george “smokey” sigler centreville council president

Town of Centreville m a r y l a n d

Harnessing Solar Energy to Power Local FacilitiesThe town of Centreville continues its push to reduce carbon emissions by providing clean, more affordable solar energy to its Waste Water Spray Irrigation facility. The one-megawatt solar project consists of two arrays, totaling 4,172 solar panels across five acres of farm land. The systems provide an estimated 1.3 million kWh annually, enough to offset more than 40 million pounds of CO2 over the next 20 years.

Clean, More Affordable Energy

Centreville’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SolarCity lets the town generate their own clean energy with no upfront cost at locked-in lower rates than they would have paid the local utility company. It is projected to save residents over $1 million* over 20 years. The arrays will also help defray the cost to operate the waste-water spray irrigation system, water treatment plants and other facilities owned by the town.

888 .SOL.CITY | 888 .765 .2489 | SOLARCITY.COM

*Expected savings are estimates based on SolarCity’s solar power rates compared to current electricity usage at Town of Centreville, current utility power costs and predicted future utility power costs. AZ ROC 243771/ROC 245450/ROC 277498, CA LIC#888104, CO EC8041, CT HIC 0632778/ELC 0125305, DC #71101486/ECC902585, DE CNR 2011120386, HI CT-29770, MA HIC 168572/MA LIC. MR-1136, MD MHIC 128948, NJ NJHIC#13VH06160600/34EB01732700, OR CB180498/C562/PB1102, PA HICPA077343, TX TECL27006, WA SOLARC*91901/SOLARC*905P7. © SolarCity Corporation. All rights reserved.

K E Y F A C T Slocation Chico, CA

project size

1.6 MW

est. annual co2 reduction

3.1M lbs of CO2

est. annual production

2M kWh

“SolarCity has made our transition to solar power simple and easy. Over the next 20 years, we expect to see about $3M in energy savings that can be spent on our teachers and students in the classroom. Plus, we’ve done something beneficial for the environment.”

–mike weissenborn director of facilities & construction, cusd

Chico Unified School District c h i c o, c a

SolarCity and Chico USD Install 1.6 MW Across 5 Sites

In early 2010, Chico Unified School District made the decision to explore solar as a way to help reduce the District’s electricity cost. The District’s motivations were to join the ranks of many in the Chico community. Chico USD has already realized energy savings and cost reductions by installing more efficient lighting and a new energy management system, and by designing new buildings with an emphasis on energy savings. Additionally, the District hired a San Francisco-based engineering firm, Newcomb Anderson McCormick (NAM), to support them in their quest to go solar.

The first step was to perform a feasibility analysis to compare the costs and benefits of different methods of procuring solar. NAM identified several sites within the District that were well suited for photovoltaic (PV) systems and recommended that the District enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) as a means of financing the system while achieving immediate cost savings. Chico USD put out a request to solicit proposals through a competitive bidding process and in October 2010 SolarCity was awarded the contract to build 1.6 MW of PV across 5 District sites. As a SolarCity PPA customer, the District can avoid installation costs and simply buy the power produced from the systems at a set rate, typically below the cost of grid electricity. The production from the system is expected to offset 85% of the sites’ total energy use and save Chico USD more than $3 million* on utility bills over the 20-year term of the PPA.

Working in Tandem to Deliver Solar Power In close cooperation with the District, SolarCity created the structural and engineering plans for the 5 systems. Construction began in June, and by September, 3 of the 5 systems—Pleasant Valley High School, Chico High School and Corporation Yard—were installed and producing power. Chapman Elementary and Marsh Junior High School were completed in 2012.

With all of SolarCity’s PV systems now installed, the District’s annual electricity consumption has been reduced by nearly 30%, resulting in a reduction in annual greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions of more than 3 million lbs. of CO2 per year, equivalent to the average annual emissions from 223 households.


*Expected savings are estimates based on SolarCity’s solar power rates compared to current electricity usage at Chico USD sites, current utility power costs and predicted future utility power costs. AZ ROC 243771/ROC 245450/ROC 277498, CA LIC#888104, CO EC8041, CT HIC 0632778/ELC 0125305, DC #71101486/ECC902585, DE CNR 2011120386, HI CT-29770, MA HIC 168572/MA LIC. MR-1136, MD MHIC 128948, NJ NJHIC#13VH06160600/34EB01732700, OR CB180498/C562/PB1102, PA HICPA077343, TX TECL27006, WA SOLARC*91901/SOLARC*905P7. © SolarCity Corporation. All rights reserved.

K E Y F A C T Slocation Lancaster, CA

project size

7.5 MW at 25 schools

est. annual savings

$320,000*

est. lifetime co2reduction

344 million lbs.

“By working closely and cooperatively with the City of Lancaster and SolarCity we have made tremendous progress in bringing solar technology to our twenty schools and district office. Our SolarCity schools program will generate valuable energy savings for our schools that can be used to provide much-needed resources for classrooms.”

–dr. howard sundberglancaster sd superintendent

Lancaster School Districts l a n c a s t e r , c a

Lancaster Scales SolarCity Program and 25 Schools Turn Sunshine Into Savings™

Solar Savings Fund Teacher Salaries

Lancaster and Eastside School Districts, serving nearly 18,000 students in 25 schools in the Antelope Valley, explored the prospect of installing solar systems at their schools to save money on energy expenses. The evaluation process seemed daunting and they were uncomfortable with the risks involved with purchasing, owning and operating energy assets. When the districts were faced with budget cuts and layoffs, they decided they did not have the resources and funds to take on new infrastructure projects at the time.

Then with the help of a unique public and private partnership between Lancaster Power Authority (LPA) and SolarCity, the districts renewed their solar ambitions. The partnership enabled the districts to install solar shade structures at all of the school and districts’ sites within the next 9 months. The expected combined savings is $325,000* in the first year, representing a 20% reduction in energy expenses and direct savings towards the general fund.

Schools Tap into SolarCity’s Experience with City Government

In 2010 the City of Lancaster, after having conducted their own thorough examination process of solar, contracted SolarCity to install shade structures on 5 city owned sites, including Lancaster City Hall. Through this effort, the City became comfortable with the operational and financial mechanics of solar and approached Lancaster and Eastside School Districts. By creating a collaborated effort with SolarCity, the LPA offered to sell power to the schools, while managing the scheduling, permitting and project management of the installations. Both executive cabinets and school boards responded favorably to working directly with the public sector and approved the program within a few months.

Construction of the solar shade structures began in the summer of 2011. One of the reasons solar shade structures were chosen is that many of the schools have roofs in different stages of their warranty cycle and need roofing work to make them solar ready. Additionally, the District State Architects (DSA) has a clear preference for solar installations in parking lots and has simplified the permitting process. SolarCity uses DSA pre-checked designs that expedite the approval process. The additional benefit of locating the solar energy systems in the parking lot is shaded parking for faculty, parents and students—a relief in the often triple digit heat of the high desert.


*Expected savings are estimates based on SolarCity’s solar power rates compared to current electricity usage at Lancaster USD, current utility power costs and predicted future utility power costs. AZ ROC 243771/ROC 245450/ROC 277498, CA LIC#888104, CO EC8041, CT HIC 0632778/ELC 0125305, DC #71101486/ECC902585, DE CNR 2011120386, HI CT-29770, MA HIC 168572/MA LIC. MR-1136, MD MHIC 128948, NJ NJHIC#13VH06160600/34EB01732700, OR CB180498/C562/PB1102, PA HICPA077343, TX TECL27006, WA SOLARC*91901/SOLARC*905P7. © SolarCity Corporation. All rights reserved.

Documents

SolarCity’s Proposal to Frederick County Public Schools