Monte Vista student urges SRVUSD to pair campus solar with EV chargers, battery storage

A Monte Vista student urged the board to explore electric-vehicle charging infrastructure at district sites and to eventually pair chargers with battery storage to capture excess daytime solar production.

Student Raymond Lee said the district already operates solar systems at 22 campuses and summarized publicly available project figures, including Phase 1 and Phase 2 panel counts and estimated annual production. "By implementing EV charging infrastructure and potentially integrating battery storage in the future, this district can maximize the value of its solar assets," Lee said, arguing chargers could serve staff, district fleet vehicles and future electric buses.

Lee noted the district—s current solar installations operate without completed battery storage and export excess energy to the grid during peak production hours; adding chargers and storage would, he said, increase on-site consumption of renewable energy. He referenced examples from other districts pairing solar with battery storage and EV infrastructure.

Board members thanked the student for the research; no formal district commitment was made at the meeting. Staff did not provide an immediate operational or budget estimate in response.

Why it matters: Pairing chargers and storage with existing solar arrays can reduce grid exports and support electrification of staff fleets and school buses, but it requires capital planning, potential grant funding and alignment with maintenance and facilities plans.

Next steps: The comment was noted; the board and staff may evaluate feasibility as part of facilities and sustainability planning.