A South Bay school district is installing dozens of solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations at its elementary and middle schools – and the ambitious energy project is seemingly causing concern amongst greater than a couple of residents.
According to Cupertino Union School District officials, this initiative will help reduce the district's carbon footprint and supply educational opportunities for college students.
However, many residents of the faculties complain that they’ve been kept at the hours of darkness about the small print and are calling on the district to supply more information concerning the project and its impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
“I would have expected more information about what is happening,” said Bharath Pattabiraman, who lives near Stocklmeir Elementary in Sunnyvale. “It will have a significant impact on our neighborhood and our daily lives.”
In February, the Cupertino Union School District – which consists of 17 elementary schools and five middle schools in Cupertino, San Jose Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Los Altos – announced a collaboration with energy company ENGIE North America to put in 5.1 megawatts of photovoltaic systems in any respect of their schools—that's about 20 to 30 acres of solar panels. The project can even install 72 electric vehicle charging stations on several campuses, including 4 at Stocklmeir, and two backup generators on the district office and maintenance yard in Sunnyvale.
CUSD is just not the primary school district within the Bay Area to make one of these energy transition. Hayward Unified School District also worked with ENGIE to implement an identical project that was accomplished in 2019. The solar panels were expected to fulfill 90% of the district's energy needs and supply $65 million in energy savings that may gain advantage the district.
Discussions about using solar energy began at CUSD in 2019, when a facilities plan identified energy efficiency as a districtwide priority, in response to CUSD spokeswoman Erin Lindsey. A public hearing on the ENGIE project was held in November 2023.
“This project aligns with CUSD’s commitment to sustainability and creates valuable educational opportunities for our students,” Lindsey said. “Including hands-on STEM learning opportunities for students and teachers across the district.”
The project is being funded by a $39 million tax-free lease and about $8.5 million in federal funds. The district expects to avoid wasting $36 million in energy costs over the following few years.
Construction began this summer, with much of the development expected to be accomplished by October and the remainder by 2025, in response to Lindsey. However, community members still have questions on the logistics of the project.
“It's a question of security,” said Raj. “How do you control the people who show up in this parking lot day and night?”
Lindsey said CUSD will resolve who locally can have access to the charging stations at a future board meeting.
The Fremont Union High School District, a feeder school for CUSD students, already has 92 electric vehicle charging stations at its five high schools.
In response to community members' concerns concerning the project, representatives from CUSD, ENGIE and the City of Sunnyvale will meet with neighbors next week.
“Something like this needs more explicit content,” said Pattabiraman. “The people who live in the immediate vicinity need to be informed and should agree to it.”
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