School District Fails Economics While Trying to Save the Planet

The law of unintended consequences hits a planet-friendly school district:

And the movement to convert San Diego schools to solar power has stalled — because it has led to a huge increase in energy costs. The San Diego Union Tribune reports electric bills went up $20,000 a year after solar energy systems were installed in 28 schools. So a plan to put solar in a total of 50 schools has run out of steam.

The administrator who runs the solar project for the Lemon Grove district says schools went solar not just to save money but to provide a lesson in planetary stewardship.

But one school board member says the unanticipated costs have taken money away from the classroom and put it into the hands of the utility companies.

School officials are hoping that an electricity rate change coming in May will work to their favor — but will not propose any more solar panel installations until they see what happens.

With school districts all over the state currently scrambling for enough funds to maintain current programs, perhaps they should disconnect the solar panels and just go back 100% on the grid. They can save the planet another day.