Porterville USD to Power Electric Bus Fleet With Solar, Storage and EV Charging

Porterville USD Solar Microgrid will integrate a 763 kW solar array, 408 kW/1632 kWh battery storage, a microgrid controller and 35 DC fast chargers to support electric school buses with vehicle-to-grid capability and campus resilience.

Porterville Unified School District is advancing an integrated clean energy and transportation project that pairs on-site solar generation, battery storage, a microgrid controller and fleet charging to power electric school buses and serve campus loads. The initiative aligns with statewide momentum on school transportation electrification, including programs such as the california ev schoolbus program that are expanding zero-emission infrastructure across districts.

The design calls for a 763 kW solar array on existing shade structures at the Districts north and south parking lots, coupled with a 408 kW/1632 kWh battery energy storage system. A microgrid controller will enable islanding from the utility as needed, allowing facilities to ride through outages by drawing on on-site resources. The new infrastructure will support 35 DC fast charger ports dedicated to the electric school bus fleet, providing high-power charging capacity for daily routes and operations.

Beyond fleet charging, the plan includes eight additional charging ports in the north parking lot for the District's light-duty "white fleet." Two of those will be bidirectional, enabling vehicle-to-grid services that can discharge power back to the grid and contribute to local resilience. Readers seeking technical background on bidirectional charging can consult the vehicle to grid project for further context on V2G concepts and use cases.

Once complete, the solar, storage and microgrid portfolio is expected to generate nearly 1,425,000 kWh of electricity annually. With coordinated dispatch of the battery and V2G resources, the District anticipates offsetting approximately 80% of facility electricity consumption, including anticipated bus charging needs. The microgrid and bidirectional capabilities are intended to enhance community resilience during Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events and other emergencies, supporting continuity of school operations.

The charging system will be managed by an independent charge management platform to optimize energy use across on-site generation, storage and grid supply. Program funding includes support from a federal clean school bus initiative, with project development, financing and construction delivered through a streamlined public procurement pathway. For readers tracking regulatory context in transportation electrification, see the cpuc ev program for additional background.

The Districts broader electrification strategy complements regional efforts to cut emissions from student transportation. For perspective on deployments outside California, refer to bc electric school buses for a look at fleet transitions in neighboring jurisdictions. Districts considering repower options may also review sea school bus conversion to understand an additional pathway alongside new vehicle purchases.

Over its planned 30-year lifetime, the portfolio is designed to avoid significant greenhouse gas emissions while providing cost certainty, fuel and maintenance savings, and operational flexibility. As the bus fleet transitions to zero-emission models, the combination of solar, storage, microgrid controls and fast charging positions Porterville Unified School District to meet energy, transportation and resilience objectives with lower-cost, cleaner electricity.

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