Schneider Electric: A Trusted Partner for California’s Central Valley

Across the Central Valley, school districts are reducing costs, modernizing infrastructure, and planning for the future with support from Schneider Electric.

California’s Central Valley stretches between two of the state’s largest cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Also known as the “Great Valley of California,” the region is a major agricultural hub, producing more than 250 crops and supplying approximately one-quarter of the nation’s fruits and nuts. However, the region’s farms and the communities that support them are increasingly vulnerable to rising temperatures, drought, and other climate-related threats. The Central Valley also experiences some of the worst air quality in the country, further compounding these challenges. As a result, the region is investing in innovative resilience and sustainability strategies.

With climate-related stressors contributing to poor air quality and extreme heat, school environments have become an important front in the region’s resilience efforts. In response, Central Valley school districts are implementing sustainability initiatives that prioritize student health, improve air quality, and foster long-term climate resilience. These efforts include adopting creative approaches to reduce environmental pollutants, conserve energy, and strengthen educational opportunities and student well-being.

Schneider Electric is helping Central Valley school districts achieve their energy efficiency goals, embrace renewable energy, and create optimal learning environments. A dozen districts have already partnered with Schneider, transforming their campuses, increasing resilience, and reducing long-term costs.

Modesto City Schools

As the 25th largest school district in California, with approximately 30,000 students across 34 schools, Modesto City Schools is committed to creating a sustainability culture and reducing environmental impact through energy conservation, improved efficiency, and resiliency measures.

“We’ve always been focusing on what we could do to improve the environment, how we could cut down on waste, and reduce the cost,” said Chad Brown, Modesto City Schools board trustee.

The district received a grant from California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck & Bus Voucher Incentive Program to purchase 30 electric school buses, but they needed a partner to implement the necessary infrastructure.

“Charging infrastructure is a complicated issue, with a lot of grid utilities, transformers, all these things to coordinate, and Schneider has the expertise, the knowledge, and a proven track record to get it done,” said Gilbert Rosas, director of sustainability and adaptation for Modesto City Schools.

That’s why Modesto selected Schneider Electric to design and build charging infrastructure for their EV bus fleet, install nearly 5MW worth of solar canopies (enough to power more than 100 average homes for a full year), and implement six Sustainable Outdoor Learning Environments.

The overall Phase I project will save 1,898,642 kWh in energy consumption and remove 402 tons of carbon emissions. That’s equivalent to removing 86 cars from the road or planting 16,080 trees. The bus fleet alone will save more than $250,000 in fuel and maintenance costs. The overall annual project savings are approximately $1.2 million.

“When you have 30 buses that come off the fleet that are no longer pumping diesel into the air, it’s going to make a difference,” said Dr. Sara Noguchi, superintendent of Modesto City Schools. “It really spurs innovation and creativity, and ultimately, it’s showing students how we can create energy in a different way to fuel computers, to fuel fans, to look at a sustainable energy source in a different way.”

Turlock Unified School District

Schneider Electric worked with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to secure grant funding for Turlock Unified School District (USD) to transform its transportation center. The project is fully grant-funded.

This project enables Turlock USD to acquire new electric school buses to replace their existing diesel-powered buses. Additionally, the district is partnering with Schneider Electric to install state-of-the-art EV charging infrastructure, including fast chargers, solar carports, and software to ensure cost-effective charging. Expected lifecycle savings from the project are more than $4.1 million.

This program positions the district for a complete transition to an all-electric bus fleet by 2035, as mandated by California law.

Stockton Unified School District

Schneider Electric created, submitted, and received approval for Stockton USD's multi-year, grant-funded energy project valued at over $10.5 million. At the same time, Schneider secured $600,000 in rebate funds through PG&E’s Storage Generation Incentive Program to help cover the cost of installing battery energy storage systems at two of Stockton USD’s largest high schools.

These systems, integrated with solar shade structures, store excess solar energy and reduce peak electricity demand. The combined solution is projected to save the district more than $16 million over the next 10 years.

Schneider Electric also supported the district in securing $7.8 million in grant funding for 12 electric buses and charging infrastructure at a newly retrofitted transportation center. Through PG&E’s EV fleet program, the district added four DC fast chargers and 12 additional charging stations to support long-term fleet expansion, all without using general fund dollars.

Los Banos Unified School District

Los Banos USD and Schneider Electric partnered in 2022 to address critical infrastructure needs throughout the district and initiate the transition to an electric bus fleet.

Los Banos had grappled with cumbersome mechanical equipment and unreliable monitoring technology for several years. Following the successful completion of an initial project in two schools, the district enlisted Schneider Electric for a more extensive project to implement modern infrastructure enhancements across 13 schools.

In addition to new HVAC and CO₂ monitoring equipment, Los Banos and Schneider Electric procured eight electric school buses and implemented advanced EV charging infrastructure. This project featured fast chargers, charge-management software, and a 192-kW solar carport.

Schneider Electric worked with Los Banos to secure state funding for every aspect of the project, ensuring that the work accomplished the district’s goals as cost-effectively as possible. With annual savings of $106,000, this program guarantees healthy and sustainable environments in the district for years to come.

Additional Central Valley School District Projects

Other Central Valley school districts that have worked with Schneider Electric to implement cost-saving sustainability initiatives include:

Alview-Dairyland USD – The implementation of a solar canopy provides a renewable energy source (reducing the school’s carbon footprint and energy costs) while offering shaded areas that contribute to the campus's outdoor usability and aesthetic appeal. The project is projected to yield more than $24,000 in annual savings for the entire district.
Golden Valley USD- –The district made it clear from the outset that it needed to find additional ways to fund the project, which included updating outdated controls and HVAC systems. Schneider Electric was able to secure a 0% CEC loan and rebates for Golden Valley. During site audits, we also found ways to produce more than $200,000 in annual savings to cover costs.
Kings Canyon USD- – The district’s central goal was ensuring its facilities improvement project remained budget-neutral. But thanks to Schneider Electric’s strategic implementation of districtwide LED lighting and other energy-efficient technologies, the project is expected to deliver over $19 million in lifecycle savings and revenue generation – a budget-positive outcome. The district also worked with Schneider Electric to secure $2.1 million in grants.
Lemoore Unified Elementary School District (LUESD)- – Before working with Schneider Electric, LUESD used standalone HVAC units in each classroom, which was expensive and inefficient. Schneider Electric proposed a variable refrigerant flow conversion, which streamlines the heating and cooling process and offers superior control, comfort, and energy efficiency. In addition, SE helped LUESD install a new building automation system with centralized control and monitoring capabilities. These upgrades led to more than $62,000 in annual savings.
Lemoore Unified High School District (LUHSD)- – Schneider Electric partnered with LUHSD to procure eight electric buses, implement advanced charging infrastructure, and install solar carports to offset energy usage, resulting in $89,000 in annual savings. Schneider Electric also worked with the district to secure grants through the state and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to fully fund the project.
Oakdale- Joint Unified School District (OJUSD) – Schneider Electric replaced OJUSD’s outdated lighting and HVAC systems, dramatically reducing the district’s energy consumption and leading to lower utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint. Additional plumbing and ventilation upgrades were also implemented to modernize the district's facilities and provide a substantial financial return, with projected savings exceeding $160,000 annually over the project’s 20-year lifespan.
Sierra USD- – The district partnered with Schneider Electric to modernize its aging facilities and support its move toward clean transportation. Specifically, SE capitalized on federal funding, grants, and other financial opportunities to install five dual-port EV fast chargers and buy four electric school buses. In addition to annual project savings of more than $130,000, Schneider Electric hosted Earth Day events and introduced students to renewable energy principles, culminating in the construction and racing of solar cars.

Trusted Partner for K-12 Transformation in California

These Central Valley school district projects are strong examples of how Schneider Electric is a trusted partner in helping educational institutions achieve their energy efficiency goals. Through a collaborative approach, each district was able to reduce costs, embrace renewable energy, and improve learning environments. These successes demonstrate what’s possible for school districts seeking cost-effective, future-ready solutions.

Schneider Electric is ready to help your school take the next step. To speak to a local expert, get in touch with us here.