Redwood City Pulse
Nonprofit local news for the Midpeninsula
Officials with the San Mateo County Office of Education celebrated a new solar photovoltaic system at the county office on Wednesday, which is expected to produce 13 million kilowatt-hours of zero-emission energy.
The system, whose installer said came with no upfront costs to the county, is expected to save taxpayers over $1.5 million in power over the next two decades.
“This project reflects what’s possible when local communities lead on climate solutions,” said Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos, who is also a member of Peninsula Clean Energy’s Board of Directors. “Schools are at the heart of our communities, and when we invest in clean energy for schools, we invest directly in students’ futures.”
Dozens gathered at 101 Twin Dolphin Drive, the Office of Education parking lot, where the system’s rooftop and carport panels now live, for the ribbon-cutting event. This infrastructure has the capacity to produce nearly 400 kilowatts, enough to generate power in excess of the building’s total demand on optimal days.
The solar devices were installed by Peninsula Clean Energy, which is the official electricity provider for San Mateo County and has a track record of offering lower costs than PG&E. Currently, Peninsula Clean Energy has generation rates 10% lower than PG&E, according to Marty Medina, the company’s board chair.
The event started with an acknowledgment of former County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee, whose death was announced on Monday and whose 67th birthday would have been on Wednesday.
“As we stand here today, I am reminded of Nancy’s longtime commitment to the environment,” said Ian Bain, the executive director of strategy and communications at the County Office of Education. “This solar project is part of Nancy’s legacy.”
This solar generation project is the second-largest in Peninsula Clean Energy’s GovPV program, which facilitates solar and battery storage installations at public facilities to lower energy costs and support more sustainable and reliable sources of power. The GovPV program is slated to finish 36 solar installations by June 2026 across the 17 San Mateo County jurisdictions and the City of Los Banos, saving local agencies around $30 million over a 20-year term, the county and Peninsula Clean Energy stated in a press release.
San Mateo County and Peninsula Clean Energy have also worked together on other sustainability initiatives, including an education program for next-generation electricians, heat pump installers and electric vehicle technicians through the Green Building and EV Collaborative. They have also partnered on converting schools to all-electric power through the School Decarbonization Program and on educating energy consumers and leaders about environmentalism.
Solar supporters included students like Carson Lum, 11, who attends Green Hills Elementary School in Millbrae. He said he’s excited about this solar sustainability initiative so “the world can stay better for years to come,” and hopes to see more like it.
Miranda de Moraes is a Brazilian-American So-Cal native, who earned her bachelor's at U.C. Santa Barbara and master's at Columbia Journalism School. She’s reported up and down the coast of California… More by Miranda de Moraes
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