Five LA Middle Schools To Get 2.7 MW Of Solar Power & EV Chargers - CleanTechnica

Five middle schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)—Northridge, Pacoima, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Sun Valley Magnet, and Sutter Middle Schools—are set to receive a combined 2.7 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation along with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Ameresco, Inc., an energy solutions provider, was selected by LAUSD in 2023 following a 2022 request for proposals to support the district’s goal of achieving 100% clean, renewable energy by 2040. This project is part of a broader initiative to install solar power at 21 schools across the district. The solar panels will be mounted on shade and carport structures, providing cooling benefits to students, staff, and visitors amid rising temperatures. Ten Level 2 EV chargers (two per school) will be installed, operating on both solar and grid power depending on availability. Although battery energy storage systems were considered to improve energy resilience,