Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, GHG Emissions  -  January 3, 2024

California Schools Receive Charging Infrastructure

Four California schools will benefit from a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) through its Clean Transportation Program to implement 12 bidirectional chargers for school bus fleets.

The $2.9 million award was given to a project team led by The Mobility House. The infrastructure will be constructed at schools in the Pittsburg Unified School District, Fremont Unified School District and the Napa Unified School District. The project will use replicable, open standards throughout the vehicles, hardware, and software.

The project will be among the first Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) connected systems installed in PG&E territory. Three of the schools will export power from their buses during peak windows in the summer, earning the districts $2 per kWh through the Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP), and helping keep the distribution system of their communities from overloading. One school will use bidirectional functionality for V2B resilience, to act as a community resilience hub at their high school.

“This project is a game-changer for our district, marking a significant stride in our journey towards a sustainable future. It not only brings financial relief but also strengthens our community's resilience,” said Matthew Belasco, Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation at the Pittsburg Unified School District in a statement. “We are thrilled to be part of this endeavor, demonstrating the potential of electric school buses to other districts across the state and setting a new standard for transportation in education.”