LAUSD School Board President Mónica García, Board Member Tamar Galatzan, and Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines were among the speakers at Canoga Park High School to launch the installation of a high-efficiency solar power system. Located in Galatzan’s district, Canoga will be the first LAUSD school in the L.A. Department of Water & Power's coverage area to have solar panels generating clean, renewable solar power.  The ceremony, witnessed by over 200 hundred students and a variety of news outlets, was held Thursday morning in the quad between the 200 and 300 buildings.  City Councilman Dennis Zine, SunPower General Manager Mark Bronez, and Kenn Phillips of the San Fernando Valley Economics Alliance were also featured speakers.

Working closely with LAUSD's Facilities Services Division, Galatzan helped forge an agreement with LADWP earlier this year to provide the necessary incentives to install the systems. The project cost of $1.8 million is fully funded by a combination of the District’s recent settlement with the DWP and from their own solar incentive program. LAUSD is partnering with SunPower Corp., a manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems.  The new system is to be installed this summer, and will generate more than 370,000 kWh annually, almost 17 percent of the school’s annual usage.  That is enough electricity to power approximately 35 homes for a year!!