School District Solar Project Drags On

When the began , the district had an ambitious three-month installation plan, with hopes to wrap up in August before the start of the school year.

But nearly nine months after the scheduled finish the installation is ongoing, and still without a final end-point. 

Superintendent Justin Frese is hopeful the project will be completed within a month, the Sonoma Index-Tribune is reporting. 

Delays plagued the project, caused by construction, plan approvals and, yes, gophers, who have been eating at plants on school grounds. The district is looking into pest control and new landscaping.

Still, the district is at the mercy of construction timelines, according to the I-T.

Frese said the completion date depends largely on when the contractor, Roebbelen, finishes wiring and testing the units, and after that, a walk-through and testing must be done by PG&E.

“There are several layers of inspections,” Frese said. “The contractor and their subcontractors do certain tests and inspections. We do inspections as well. And I believe PG&E also does inspections during their interconnection process.”

Do you live near a district school? Has construction changed your schedule at all? Do you think the extended timeline will effect students or residents?