Rescue Union School District

 

Rescue Union School District is proud to announce the successful completion of its ambitious, two-year districtwide Solar Project. The final milestone was reached during the first week of June, when the district officially “flipped the switch,” bringing clean, renewable energy online across all seven school sites. What began with groundbreaking at Pleasant Grove Middle School in 2024 has now culminated in a fully operational network of freestanding solar structures. The completed project marks a monumental achievement in environmental sustainability and fiscal stewardship for the entire RUSD community.

 

The construction and installation of the solar structures were completed at no cost to the District’s general fund. Long-term financial savings, secured through the strategic lease structure, are guaranteed over the next 25 years and will be directly reinvested into deferred maintenance and critical facility improvements across all seven campuses. RUSD utilized a competitive bidding process to select El Dorado Hills-based solar contractor Excite Energy, a proud Jackson Elementary family business, keeping the project's economic and environmental benefits close to home.

 

“Our partnership with Excite Energy has been absolutely instrumental over the last two years,” said Superintendent Jim Shoemake. “Thanks to Excite Energy’s commitment and expertise, and our team's foresight and oversight, we have officially transitioned to a more sustainable and cost-efficient future for our district. The savings from this project ensures we can address our long-term facility needs without impacting our classroom budgets.”

 

For more information about the completed solar initiative, visit www.rescueusd.org or contact the district office at (530) 677-4461.