El Dorado Union High School District’s Resilient Energy Infrastructure

The Challenge

Ensure reliable, affordable power and keep schools open during grid outages in a wildfire-prone region

Project Overview

Serving approximately 7,000 students across four high schools in El Dorado County, California, El Dorado Union High School District partnered with OPTERRA to address frequent public safety power shutoffs, severe weather disruptions, and rising electricity costs. The district implemented a phased energy and resiliency solution, combining onsite solar generation, energy efficiency upgrades, and campus microgrids, to reduce reliance on the grid, stabilize energy expenses, and keep schools operational during both planned and unplanned outages.

Community event at an El Dorado Union High School campus under solar panel shade structures.

Key Benefits

Energy

• More than 3.21 MH of onsite solar PV installed across high school campuses.
• Battery energy storage systems integrated to support microgrid operations.
• Peak-demand shaving to reduce exposure to high-cost utility periods.

Savings

• $6.4 million in net savings projected over the life of the project.
• Approximately 77% reduction in electricity purchased from the grid.
• Fixed-rate energy pricing that protects against rising utility rates.

Community

• Schools remain open and operational during grid outages.
• Campuses capable of serving as community resilience centers.
• Reduced carbon emissions equivalent to removing 120 cars from the road annually.

Podium and sign reading “Flipping the Switch on Our Renewable Future” at an El Dorado Union High School event after project completion.

Energy Assessment and Strategy

OPTERRA worked closely with district leadership to evaluate energy usage, facility constraints, and outage risk across campuses. The assessment informed a right-sized strategy that prioritized efficiency upgrades first, such as LED lighting retrofits, to reduce overall energy demand before integrating solar generation and storage. This sequencing ensured that each microgrid was appropriately scaled to support both daily operations and resiliency needs.

Implementation and Funding

The program was delivered through a phased approach that minimized disruption to classroom activities. Solar PV systems were installed on parking lot shade structures, paired with battery energy storage and backup generation to support extended outages. OPTERRA also supported the district in securing state incentives, including California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program, to help offset project costs while guaranteeing system performance over the life of the program.