SAN JOSE and SAN DIMAS, Calif., Jan. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bonita Unified School District (BUSD) and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWR) celebrate the near completion of multiple SunPower® Helix™ solar systems across 13 school sites in California's San Gabriel Valley with a community ribbon-cutting event at San Dimas High School today, January 11, 2017, 4 p.m. Pacific Time.

A combination of carports, shade structures and fixed-tilt systems will total 3.9 megawatts. The Helix systems are complete with SunPower® EnergyLink™ software, a comprehensive, powerful energy intelligence software (EIS) for solar which quantifies real-time demand charge savings, and identifies demand peaks and savings opportunities. BUSD expects to save more than $26 million in electricity costs over 30 years by switching to solar.

"The money saved over the next 30 years will be used to support the educational programs of the District," said Assistant Superintendent Ann Sparks. "SunPower was selected because they provide the industry's best power and product warranty, system maintenance, and value pricing. We are very happy to be working with them."

The SunPower® Helix™ systems installed at the school sites are expected to generate more than 6 million kilowatt hours of clean solar energy each year. Over 30 years, this would equate to removing nearly 26,000 cars from the road according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. To finance the majority of the project, the District secured U.S. Department of Treasury clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs), which are available to certain entities, primarily in the public sector, to finance renewable energy projects. BUSD also owns the renewable energy credits associated with the systems. About $2 million of the cost will be supplied through Measure AB funds, which voters approved in 2008.

"We're thrilled to celebrate BUSD's commitment to a clean energy future with SunPower's high efficiency, high reliability solar," said Bill Kelly, SunPower vice president. "It's rewarding to see a district like BUSD reduce electricity costs through solar power, while demonstrating the incredible potential of renewable energy to their students, the energy that will power their future."

A leader in delivering innovative energy solutions to California school districts, SunPower has installed more than 135 megawatts in 30 districts. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), this is enough to power 33,750 average California homes. 

About Bonita Unified School District

Bonita Unified School District serves 10,230 students from the La Verne, San Dimas, and surrounding communities with comprehensive educational services on thirteen campuses. The District is known for innovative educational practices, strong athletic and arts programs, and successful business practices that have saved taxpayer dollars while still providing a well-rounded education for all students.

About SunPower

As one of the world's most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower's more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.

SunPower's Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding expected project timelines, projected energy output, and expected cost savings. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause results, performance or achievement to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: regulatory changes and the availability of economic incentives promoting use of solar energy, challenges inherent in constructing and maintaining certain of our large projects, and fluctuations or declines in the performance of our solar panels and other products and solutions. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including our most recent report on Form 10-K, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor Relations website at investors.sunpowercorp.com. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

©2017 SunPower Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.  SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER logo, ENERGYLINK and HELIX are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries as well.

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SOURCE SunPower Corp.