Update 2007

We have been told that the Pacific Valley School system problems have been corrected. We have not been invited to inspect the project.

Update 7/11/06

PV School called and told us they have applied for a "hardship" grant to perform the needed repairs. This is good news although we have not given any indication as to the cost of any repairs beyond the most immediate and necessary.

Pacific Valley School

Pacific Valley School is located on the scenic Big Sur Coast of Central California Coast. It is a K-12 public school with the unique feature that it is not supplied by electricity from the electric grid. The school's electrical supply instead is provided by a mixture of solar electric and generator power.

I have reason to believe that the electrical system at Pacific Valley School is dangerous and I created this web area in order to easily communicate the information I have to parents and public officials in order that these problems can be quickly resolved. It is not my intention to shame or embarass anyone-- only to get the problem solved.

Background

Several times since 2000 I have had reason to review the condition of the electrical system at Pacific Valley School. I have visted the property twice and a trusted colleague has surveyed it once. On each of these surveys, new unsafe conditions have been discovered. Since October of 2000, I have been corresponding with the school administration in an attempt to convice them to resolve these serious electrical and occupational safety hazards. I have contacted school board members, district supervisors, Monterey County of Education administrators and California Division of Forestry fire safety inspectors in an attempt to remedy these safety concerns, but as of yet we have not gotten any results.

Links

Below are links to the findings resulting from these site surveys, photos of the unsafe conditions, letters I have sent and a log of the contacts with officials working for public agencies all in an attempt to resolve these safety issues. While I am a contractor in the business of installing and repairing systems such as these, my aim is not that I do any of the repair work, but that it be done by a competent, licensed, bonded and insured contractor. It would not be appropriate for the original installer, who obviously does not grasp the technology, or for an untrained school maintenance person to repair these problems.

Please book mark this link and follow along as we atttempt to get this situation repaired.

William Miller

Links:

Pacific Valley School home page

Pacific Valley School Solar Electric System

Monterey County Office of Education

Photos of unsafe conditions at Pacific Valley School

Wiring Diagrams of the electrical System at Pacific Valley School

Letters written to Pacific Valley School reporting unsafe conditions

Contact Log: Log of contacts with public officicials