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Call Jasmine Wesley (714) 910-4631       jasmine@prestige-realtyca.com OUSD boosting solar footprint The Orange Unified School District has entered into a Memo- randum of Understanding (MOU) with Ameresco, Inc., ahead of a proposed power purchase agree- ment to install solar panels at eight school sites. The MOU authorizes third- party verification of the district’s net savings over the next 25 years if the photovoltaic system is in- stalled. It also releases OUSD to verify the power purchase agree- ment compliance with govern- ment codes and provide contract terms to be considered at a future board meeting. Under the proposed power purchase agreement, Ameresco will install solar panels on OUSD sites and hook them up to the electric utility. The solar panels generate energy, which offsets the district’s power bill. The district pays for the construction costs, an expected $175,000. “We would spend $19.5 million for these sites if we did nothing,” Scott Harvey, senior executive director, administrative services, explains. “We’ve negotiated to pay $0.149 per kilowatt hour over the next 25 years. That’s a savings of $6,364,000. And it costs us just $175,000 to earn that savings.” OUSD installed carport arrays at eight other sites in 2018 and has, according to Harvey, saved $200,000. The annual savings increases over time; the expected savings for those sites is $7 mil- lion over 25 years. Serrano Water District on forefront of filtration effort By Andie Mills Serrano Water District (SWD), an independent special district that provides water primarily to residents in Villa Park and some adjacent portions of Orange, will be one of the first in the county, if not the very first, to filter its water for PFAS substances. Fullerton and other suppliers are also start- ed to build treatment facilities. What is PFAS? Per Orange County Water District (OCWD), “Perfluorooctaoic acid and perflu- orooctane sulfonate are chemicals that are prevalent in the environ- ment and were once commonly used in many consumer products. They are part of a larger group re- ferred to as per-and polyfluoroal- kyl substances (PFAS), and have been detected in the OC Ground- water Basin. OCWD’s Water Quality Laboratory became the first public agency lab in Califor- nia to achieve state certification to analyze for PFAS in drinking water.” The State of California has mandated that water districts take steps to remove the PFAS elements from consumable water sources. Ground breaking SWD General Manager Jerry Vilander advised that Serrano plans to break ground on its PFAS treatment plant in late January. A concrete pad, conduits and piping for four ion-exchange filtration vessels will be installed behind the office, located on Lincoln Street, between Potter and Fred- erick in Villa Park. Trellises, trees and foliage will screen the vessels, each approxi- mately 12 feet in diameter and 16 feet in height. Each filtration pressure vessel, using ion-ex- change resin media, is expected to filter an average of 2,200 gal- lons per minute, with the capabil- ity of filtering up to 3,000 gallons per minute (gpm). A constant op- eration of 3,000 gpm would be enough water for about 36,700 people. The construction cost estimate is $4.3 million. Project design adds $500,000. OCWD is provid- ing the capital and managing the project, with a target completion date of late July or early August. Once completed, Serrano Water District will assume half of the $400,000 cost of maintenance and operations; no extra staffing is required. OCWD will assume the remaining half of mainte- nance and operational expenses. While these measures could impact water rates, the costs are still being determined. OCWD is pursuing cost recovery options, such as loans and grants, as well as litigation along with impacted retail water agencies, to help re- duce impacts to local ratepayers. In other SWD news, at the Dec. 15 meeting of the Board of Di- rectors, Greg Mills was elected president, and Brad Reese was named vice president. Mills and Directors Jerry Haight and Larry Pharris will serve through 2024; Frank Bryant’s and Reese’s terms will expire in 2022. The Tustin Public Schools Foundation (TPSF) was recently presented a “big check” from the dealers of the Tustin Auto Center. Tustin Unified schools benefited from the Auto Center’s annual Schools Drive that generated $50 for every new car sold or leased in October, a total of $62,700. The Foundation supports all 30 Tustin Unified schools, and the funds will assist with new technology needs, wellness, school-wide grants and remote learning. From left, Vinnie Torrente, Tustin Acura; Peter Ngo, Tustin Cadillac; Al Dimont, Tuttle-Click; Kristin Simpkins, TPSF president; Letitia Clark, Tustin mayor; Carol Burby Garrett, TPSF executive director; Andrea Dabrow, TPSF director of development; John Patterson, OC Auto Team; and Farough Dibiri, Tustin Mazda. TAWC scholarships now available The Tustin Area Woman’s Club (TAWC), an all-volunteer philan- thropic social group dedicated to the improvement of the commu- nity, announced that its college scholarship application forms are now available at tustinareawom- ansclub.com , or in counselors' of- fices at each of the Tustin Unified High Schools. For over 60 years, TAWC has given college scholarships to deserving TUSD students. This year, TAWC will offer a $1,000 collegiate scholarship to one graduating senior from each of the four TUSD high schools: Beckman, Foothill, Tustin and Hillview. The TAWC college ap- plication deadline is March 1. Orange Emblem Club 418 recently donated paper goods and COVID-19 supplies (face masks and hand cleaner) to Ronald McDonald House. Seen here, Community Service Chairman Carol Walters (center) with Orange Elks Exalted Ruler Danny and First Lady Linda Salas. Santa was unable to parade through Villa Park on a fire truck, as is tra- dition, as firefighters and equipment were deployed to the Bond Fire. But, thanks to quick thinking by former Mayor Robbie Pitts, Santa was chauffeured about town in a shiny red Jeep, keeping his commitment to hear the Christmas wishes of children. Here, Joseph Kraft, 9, let Santa know that he was hoping for an electric scooter in his stocking. The pandemic also cancelled the city’s annual Dry Land Boat Parade.