Next year, should all go according to the PUSD school board’s plan to collaborate with Forefront Power, overhanging solar panels will be installed in the student parking lot. The sun’s energy will no longer heat the interiors of student cars—instead, it will generate enough energy to offset a projected 91% of the energy being used at Westview. The Nexus eagerly anticipates such a change to the campus’s energy consumption.

The various parties that made this plan possible should all be applauded. We would like to acknowledge Ruben Arras, the Director of Facilities, Maintenance, and Operations and Rheia Alschbach, the Assistant Director of Planning, Ron Trimner, the Assistant Director of Facilities, Operations, and Maintenance, and PUSD’s Energy Consultant, Allie Bridge Energy Solutions. 

Despite the California Public Utilities Commission  changing the accessibility of solar energy, the board’s determination to move forward with the solar panel plan speaks to their focus on the future of our community. We appreciate that given the cost of solar panels, there’s a payment plan in place that means the price tag of such a project is still projected to result in net yearly savings.

Last month’s preliminary drilling to test the soil is a good step forward into a future where Westview’s campus is more sustainable and economical. The new plan, which has PUSD paying ForeFront energy a monthly rate for solar power instead of going to San Diego Gas and Electric, means that our campus is taking a step forward into a more environmentally conscious future. Proponents of campus improvement and modernization can finally see tangible change, one that is a great way to address student advocacy for more sustainability. 

Considering district initiatives such as Mending Matters were dependent on COVID-19 funding, the 36 million dollars that the district will save over two decades is promising. Whether this funding is utilized for campus beautification, renovations, or bolstering the resources available to staff and students, as a whole, the current plan would be a boon for every denizen of the school. 

Ultimately, the new development is a win both for students hoping for more shade in the parking lot, and community members hoping for a more cost-efficient energy system for local schools. The move being a district-wide one is even more reassuring—The Nexus welcomes such development and hopes to see steady progress unfold this summer. We are therefore grateful to the board and to Forefront Power for their efforts, and we invite everyone at Westview to support this move forward into a brighter future.