District updates solar, HVAC and EV charging projects; presenter cites $29 million projected savings over 30 years

SiteLogic project lead Jennifer Butler updated the Western Placer Unified board Tuesday on the district’s energy‑savings contract, covering HVAC replacements, solar panel installation timelines, EV chargers and LED lighting retrofits.

Butler said classroom‑level HVAC units will be installed at 12 Bridges Middle School and that part of the existing chiller plant will be decommissioned to reduce ongoing failures. Solar installation is scheduled in phases: some high‑school work starts in April and other sites run through late 2026/early 2027. The district is installing multiple EV charging stations — sized for future EV buses and for public use — and is pursuing grant funding to help cover costs.

Butler highlighted lighting work that replaces more than 7,000 bulbs with LEDs and introduces modern controls; she also demonstrated a live energy dashboard the district can use for monitoring and reporting. On projected financial benefits, Butler and a SiteLogic colleague referenced an estimated $29,000,000 in savings over 30 years tied to the package of energy projects, noting much of those savings will be used to repay prior COP financing and to cover system costs.

Board members asked for multi‑year savings breakdowns and for coordination with school event schedules; Butler said the team will return quarterly with updates and will provide dashboard access for board review.