Los Angeles USD Invests $20M in Renewable Energy Projects
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Unified School District has partnered with Ameresco, an energy solutions provider, to install over 2.7 MW of solar carport and shade structure PV systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, at five of its middle schools.
The schools are Northridge Middle School, Pacoima Middle School, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Sun Valley Magnet School and Sutter Middle School.
The projects will provide shaded parking for faculty, staff, parents, and visitors at each of the schools, and EV charging stations to support city- and state-wide goals of widespread EV adoption over the next decade.
“We’re looking forward to working with Ameresco to reduce the district’s carbon footprint and lowering our operating expenses for utilities,” said Alberto M. Carvalho, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, in a written statement.
The superintendent pointed out the school communities “will benefit not only from the recurring cost savings from these projects, but also from the firsthand experience watching energy systems of the future installed at their own schools.”
Ameresco will also provide operation and maintenance of the installed systems, and a 25-year performance guarantee.
The $20.7 million project being implemented by Ameresco is part of larger program to install solar at 21 LAUSD schools. This program supports the LAUSD Board of Education 2019 Clean Energy Resolution to provide 100% clean energy by 2040.
LAUSD’s solar PV program also supports a larger effort to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2035 in alignment with the City of Los Angeles’ commitment to achieving the same goal.
In 2021, the city and the LA Department of Water and Power adopted this goal based on a study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the LA100 Study. The study demonstrated the benefits of targeting an ambitious goal to rapidly deploy wind, solar and storage technologies to modernize the city’s electricity infrastructure, build resiliency via diversified energy sources and increase equity in both participation and outcomes.
The net cost avoidance from the 21-school program is expected to total up to $45.7 million. The utility cost avoidance delivered by the entire 21-school program is expected to amount to up to $168 million in general fund relief over the 25-year project term, allowing LAUSD to focus resources on student achievement and other core initiatives.
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