ForeFront Power developing solar and storage project at California school district

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="PUSD ForeFront Power school district EV buses" class="wp-image-60271" height="467" src="https://solarbuildermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PUSD-Electric-Buses-1-700x467.jpg" width="700" /></figure>

<p>California&#8217;s <a href="https://www.portervilleschools.org/">Porterville Unified School District (PUSD)</a> is majorly overhauling its energy infrastructure, thanks to some help from <a href="https://www.forefrontpower.com/">ForeFront Power</a>.</p>

<p>Aiming to meet the district&#8217;s needs for energy, grid resilience, and electricity costs, the project will include a 763 kW <a href="https://solarbuildermag.com/projects/big-opportunities-for-solar-carports-in-u-s-amid-unsteady-market/">carport solar array</a>, a 408 kW / 1.63 MWh battery storage system, and its own microgrid capabilities. The district will be able to fully detach from <a href="https://www.sce.com/">Southern California Edison&#8217;s</a> main grid when needed, drawing all power from the on-site solar assets.</p>

<p>In total, the project should be able to offset about 80% of the district&#8217;s electricity consumption across all facilities, ForeFront Power representatives say.</p>

<p>&#8220;We are excited to advance this important infrastructure project, which supports the District’s long-term goals for sustainability, energy resiliency, and responsible stewardship of public resources,&#8221; says Brad Rohrbach, assistant superintendent of businesses services for Porterville Unified School District. &#8220;This project represents a significant investment in our students, schools, and community, while helping position the District for a more efficient and sustainable future.&#8221;</p>

<p>Innovative energy technologies like microgrids and <a href="https://solarbuildermag.com/residential-solar/a-vehicle-to-load-playbook/">vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services</a> have become integral to the PUSD&#8217;s resiliency strategy, officials say. The project also aims to protect the wider community in the district&#8217;s area of California during emergencies and power outages.</p>

<p>“When complete, this clean energy portfolio will serve as a national model,&#8221; says Dr. Ruben Fontes, CEO of ForeFront Power, &#8220;for how vulnerable communities can mitigate rising energy and fuel costs, improve public health, meet ambitious climate goals, and protect themselves from climate emergencies.”</p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-charging-up-the-fleet">Charging up the fleet</h3>

<p>In addition to solar and storage efforts, the district will be electrifying its fleet of school buses, thanks to a major investment through the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">EPA&#8217;s</a> <a href="https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus">Clean School Bus Program</a>. </p>

<p>Largely made up of federal grant money, the investment will pair the district with <a href="https://calstart.org/">CALSTART</a>, a Pasadena, California-based firm focusing on furthering the energy transition in the transportation sector. Included in the wider project is a support system of 35 fast charging ports to serve the fleet, which will connect to <a href="https://www.mobilityhouse.com/usa_en/">The Mobility House&#8217;s</a> ChargePilot charging management system. </p>

<p>CALSTART&#8217;s regional director, Valerie Thorsen, P.E., says the district has also provided EV internships in partnership with <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.climateactionpathways.org%2F&amp;esheet=54564766&amp;newsitemid=20260707447209&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Climate+Action+Pathways+for+Schools&amp;index=8&amp;md5=409ed1f5af43e7ed65b24b679d53cb7c" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Climate Action Pathways for Schools</a>, and are enabling the creation and filling of renewable energy jobs in the Golden State.</p>

<p>“PUSD’s commitment to decarbonize their fleet is transformational for the San Joaquin Valley, for the broader Porterville community, and for school districts that are navigating similar transitions,&#8221; Thorsen adds. &#8220;Funding programs that reduce capital costs are critical to make these school electrification projects possible.&#8221;</p>

<p>The newly electrified fleet of buses will help to remedy another problem for the school district and its surrounding area: poor air quality. According to ForeFront Power officials, the district&#8217;s home of Tulare County consistently experiences some of the worst air quality in the U.S. as a whole. The EV fleet program is part of the PUSD Energy &amp; Sustainability Program, aiming to reduce both energy costs and GHG emissions by 80% by 2030 or sooner.</p>
<p>-- Solar Builder magazine</p>