NOVATO, California — Prevalent Power, one of California's fastest growing providers of large-scale solar power systems, today announced that it had secured contracts to supply and install 180 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems for six California public schools. Prevalent Power helped the schools to secure approximately 80% of project financing through the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Solar Schools rebate incentive program. In addition to saving money on the school’s energy bills, the PV systems provide an invaluable teaching tool that will be integrated into each school’s science and energy curriculum.

The solar PV systems, which range in size from 20 to 30 kW each, provide a large portion of the electric power needed to run the schools. Because approximately 80% of the project cost is paid for by the Solar Schools program, the systems typically pay for themselves in less than 5 years through energy cost savings. Prevalent Power further helped many of its school clients secure CEC energy efficiency loans that cover the remaining 20% project cost at highly advantageous terms. The schools that applied to both the Solar Schools program and loan programs simultaneously will actually save money because the loan payments will be less than what they would otherwise pay the utility for the energy produced by the PV systems.

The CEC and the California Power Authority established the Solar Schools Program to provide a higher level of funding for public and charter schools towards the installation of photovoltaic generating systems. Funded jointly by the CEC’s Emerging Renewables Program and the Attorney General’s Alternative Energy Retrofit Account (AGAERA), the Solar Schools program offers schools rebates that are twice the amount of those currently offered to homeowners. In addition, the program’s maximum system size cap of 30kW is 3-times the 10kW cap for the homeowner program.

But saving money on energy is only half the benefit that schools will achieve under the Solar Schools program. The program requires that schools establish a curriculum tie-in plan to educate students on the benefits of solar energy and energy conservation. Prevalent Power provided schools with a turnkey tie-in plan to meet the curriculum requirements easily and effectively. The centerpiece of the curriculum tie-in is a Web-enabled data-acquisition and monitoring system called PV2Web from Fat Spaniel Technologies. PV2Web enables students, teachers and school administrators to monitor real-time and historical data about the PV system’s performance over the school’s existing computer network and on the Internet. By providing interactive access to system data, PV2Web serves as a robust platform for students to perform experiments and to learn more about the benefits of solar energy and energy conservation.

“We’re extraordinarily pleased to be a part of this program,” said Arno Harris, Prevalent Power’s chief executive officer. “Saving money for California schools is of vital importance, particularly given the state’s budget difficulties. The additional opportunity to help schools teach students—tomorrow’s voters, policymakers and taxpayers—about the benefits of solar energy and energy conservation is more icing on the cake.”

The PV system components are to be supplied by RWE SCHOTT Solar (RSS), a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality solar modules and systems. As part of the projects, RSS will provide 1,296 SAPC-165 solar PV modules and 7 Xantrex PVseries utility-interactive inverters as well as the necessary mounting hardware for the modules. Prevalent Power expects to complete the systems by the fall of 2004.

About Prevalent Power, Inc.

Prevalent Power, Inc. is a next generation clean energy services company serving business, government and institutional clients throughout California. The company’s mission is to develop cost-effective clean energy solutions that benefit the bottom line--delivering hard value in the form of reduced energy bills, greater power reliability and utility independence. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.prevalentpower.com

For more information on RWE SCHOTT Solar, please visit http://www.rweschottsolar.com

About Fat Spaniel Technologies

Fat Spaniel Technologies provides real-time solar energy monitoring for commercial and residential installers, equipment manufacturers, and system owners via any internet-enabled device. Fat Spaniel Technologies was founded with the goal of making renewable energy more visible, accessible and compelling to end users, industry professionals and policy makers. Further information is available on the company's web site: www.fatspaniel.com.

Contact:
Greg Weaver 
(408) 279-5262
sales@fatspaniel.com

Arno Harris
(415) 506-0123
aharris@prevalentpower.com