California Leads the Charge in Renewable Energy for Schools

An aerial view of Mission College in Santa Clara, California, showcasing a large solar carport installation across a parking lot, with trees and campus buildings in the foreground. The text overlay reads "Clean Energy Fuels California Schools" with a note below stating "Mission College | Santa Clara, California | PV 2.1 MW | BESS 1MW ". The image highlights the integration of renewable energy infrastructure at educational institutions.
Mission College | Santa Clara, CA | PV 2.1 MW | BESS 1 MW

California’s schools are emerging as national leaders in sustainability, setting a benchmark for others to follow.

According to the Brighter Future Report, solar power in the U.S. K-12 schools more than quadrupled between 2013 and 2023. Despite this impressive growth, only 10 percent of U.S. schools have adopted some form of solar energy.

California leads the nation in the number of solar installations in K-12 schools: 2,956 as of the end of 2023, compared with 581 in Iowa, which ranks second in K-12 solar installations.

A dual-line chart illustrating the growth in solar adoption by U.S. K-12 schools from 2014 to 2023. The blue line represents cumulative solar capacity in megawatts (MW), which steadily increases from 500 MW in 2014 to nearly 2,000 MW in 2023. The orange line tracks the number of schools with solar installations, climbing from around 2,000 schools in 2014 to over 9,000 schools in 2023. The chart highlights significant growth in both solar capacity and adoption over the years, demonstrating the expanding role of renewable energy in education. Data source: Brighter Future Report, August 2024.

The Golden State has introduced several pieces of legislation to support the construction of solar facilities in public education. For example, the California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Proposition 39), an initiative approved by the state electorate in 2012, allocated over $1.5 billion to schools to improve facilities and lower energy bills, including installing solar panels. The California Energy Commission’s Bright Schools Program, which expects to resume operation soon, accepts applications for funding to help K-12 schools install solar technology and adopt other energy-saving measures.

Advancing renewable energy in K-12 schools

With 67 completed solar energy installations across 36 California school districts, BEI Construction is redefining what it means for schools to lead in sustainability.

Given BEI Construction’s commitment to sustainable innovation and its support of California education, our team is working to spearhead the clean energy movement in the state’s public education system—helping to empower schools to lead in sustainability, reducing environmental footprints, and fostering environmental responsibility among students and staff.

BEI provides solar installations and EV charging stations for schools as part of its broader portfolio, helping to reduce costs while supporting California’s ambitious climate goals. Notable projects include solar canopies in the Cupertino Union School District and Acalanes Union High School District, which generate clean energy while providing shaded outdoor spaces and covered parking.

Other school projects include 1.6MW of carport canopy PV systems for the Mountain View Unified School District, 7.2MW of solar across multiple school sites in the San Jose Unified School District, and 2MW of renewable energy/solar for the Keppel Unified School District, which serves Palmdale and other adjacent communities. Details about these installations can be found on our website’s project portfolio page.

Contributions beyond renewable energy

BEI also serves California education in other ways, delivering advanced solutions to enhance safety and connectivity across multiple educational campuses. These systems, such as security cameras, audio/visual solutions, and wireless access control, modernize spaces while ensuring security.

“Numerous studies have demonstrated that safety and enhanced communication capabilities are strongly correlated with a positive school culture,” explains Gary Chelini, Principal, BEI Construction. “They also contribute to a more conducive learning environment—promoting student well-being and academic success. With BEI Connect’s expertise in security, audiovisual, and technology infrastructure and BEI Construction’s end-to-end design and engineering services, our firm is clearly positioned for growth in the K-12 sector. We’re excited to be helping to build a better and more sustainable education system here in California.”

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