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Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District and OPTERRA Energy Services Announce Completion of $33 Million Campus-Wide Modernization Project

Yucaipa, Calif. — The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD), in partnership with OPTERRA Energy Services, today announced the successful completion of a comprehensive $33 million, district-wide energy modernization project. This initiative reflects the District’s leadership in advancing economic sustainability for the broader community, while improving campus infrastructure for students, staff, and faculty.

Focused on modernizing its facilities without placing additional financial burden on local taxpayers, YCJUSD initiated a performance-based energy contract with OPTERRA Energy Services in 2023. Over the past three years, OPTERRA implemented a holistic, district-wide approach to the project, completing significant upgrades to lighting systems, replacement of aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, and the installation of on-site solar energy generation.

The District has completed $33 million in critical infrastructure improvements across its campuses while also prioritizing overall reduction in energy consumption and leveraging available grants and incentives. By taking a comprehensive approach to their program design and implementation goals, YCJUSD has been able to enhance operational efficiency while supporting long-term financial stability.

“This project represents a major step forward for our District,” said Cathy Bogh, President of the YCJUSD Board of Education. “We are proud to invest in modern, efficient, and sustainable facilities that directly benefit our students and staff, all while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. This partnership has allowed us to improve our schools for the current community of students and teachers, while planning responsibly for growth into the future.”

Key components of the project include:

• 3.1 megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems installed across 12 schools
• LED interior and exterior lighting upgrades at 14 sites
• Sports field lighting improvements at Yucaipa High School
• Major HVAC mechanical system replacements
• Transformer replacements to improve electrical reliability
• A 20-year operations and maintenance program to ensure long-term performance
• Student interns recognized by the YCJUSD Board of Education with Certificates of Achievement for their contributions to the energy project

The project is expected to deliver significant financial and environmental benefits, including more than $42 million in net savings over 20 years. YCJUSD will also secure more than $5 million dollars in an Inflation Reduction Act grant, further maximizing the value of their investment.

Ensuring that the project infrastructure improvements also had a direct impact on District education goals, the energy program includes a customized student engagement initiative with multiple offerings. One key activity focuses on student internships designed to enrich YCJUSD’s vision to expand workforce development and readiness for students in energy and sustainability fields. Led by OPTERRA’s in-house energy education team and advised by District leadership, the program also includes the development of elementary science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) learning kits aligned to the District’s curriculum to be distributed across all elementary schools. With the unique combination of energy infrastructure upgrades and tailored education tie-ins, YCJUSD’s program is helping to equip educators with hands-on tools to engage students in sustainability, energy, and engineering concepts.

“Our team is so proud to support YCJUSD’s vision for future success through the successful completion of our project together this spring. YCJUSD’s leadership demonstrates how school districts can take a proactive, strategic approach to modernizing facilities while delivering measurable financial and environmental benefits,” said Courtney Jenkins, CEO of OPTERRA Energy Services. “By leveraging a comprehensive energy program, the District has transformed its campuses into more efficient, sustainable learning environments without increasing costs to the community.”

About OPTERRA Energy Services
OPTERRA Energy Services, an LS Power company, is a national energy company headquartered in Oakland, California, and employs nearly 300 energy professionals across the U.S. The company provides comprehensive energy and infrastructure solutions to municipalities, K-16 education, special districts, and state and federal agencies. To date, OPTERRA has helped customers achieve more than $3 billion dollars in guaranteed energy cost savings. For more information, visit www.opterraenergy.com.

About YCJUSD

YCJUSD serves more than 8,600 students – in preschool through comprehensive adult education – in California’s Inland Empire. With 14 schools offering both in-person and online pathways to graduation, YCJUSD provides a modern, innovative educational program for students across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. To learn more about the District, visit www.yucaipaschools.com, and for specific details on long-term solar cost savings, visit www.yucaipaschools.com/page/solar-project.

Media Contacts

Anne Smith, OPTERRA Energy Services Public Relations

(408) 313-8089, asmith@opterraenergy.com

Lance Bradley, YCJUSD, Manager-Communications and Safety

(909) 797-0174, Lance_Bradley@ycjusd.us

Terry Gorman Brown, City of Oceanside Communications
(760) 435-3076, tbrown@oceansideca.org

Anne Smith, OPTERRA Energy Services Public Relations
(408) 313-8089, asmith@opterraenergy.com

Oceanside’s Energy Infrastructure Project Earns Global Recognition, Delivering $26 Million in Projected Savings for Taxpayers

Oceanside, CA – The City of Oceanside has been named as having one of the twenty most innovative government infrastructure projects in the world, earning a Smart 20 Award at the Smart Cities Connect Conference for its citywide Energy Infrastructure Upgrade Program. The award, which recognizes standout projects, highlights an initiative implemented in partnership with OPTERRA Energy Services that is projected to save Oceanside an estimated $26 million over the life of the program.

Throughout City facilities, the project reduces electricity consumption by 4,200 megawatt-hours annually, shaving 157 kilowatts of peak demand, and avoiding more than 2,900 metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year — the equivalent to planting and growing 48,000 trees for a decade. By bundling solar, energy storage, HVAC upgrades, LED lighting, smart controls, and rate optimization into one program, Oceanside leveraged utility savings and state and federal programs to modernize infrastructure and advance its Climate Action Plan. Oceanside advanced innovative financing options to secure $3.2 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding and $150,000 in Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) incentives, broadening the impact and providing a better return on investment. Additionally, because it acted proactively, Oceanside was grandfathered into a more beneficial Net Energy Metering (NEM 2.0) utility program for its solar installations.

“Oceanside residents expect us to make smart decisions with public dollars, and this program delivers on that,” noted Mayor Esther Sanchez. “We modernized aging infrastructure, cut energy costs, put local companies to work, and gave students real hands-on learning opportunities — all without adding to the general fund. That’s the kind of government investment that actually improves people’s daily lives — and that’s what we’ll keep working towards.”

Project Highlights at-a-Glance

• 1.6 MW of solar generation across five City sites
• 250 kW / 514 kWh energy storage system
• LED lighting upgrades at 17 City locations
• Oceanside Civic Center central plant and roof replacement
• Chiller, pump, transformer, and HVAC upgrades
• 89 supply/exhaust fan replacements
• 124 smart thermostats and upgraded Building Management System
• Conduit for future EV charging infrastructure
• Favorable utility rate adjustments at three City sites

“Oceanside’s comprehensive energy infrastructure upgrade demonstrates how cities can transform aging facilities into models of sustainability through a paid-from-savings approach,” said Courtney Jenkins, CEO of OPTERRA Energy Services. “This award-winning initiative stands out for the overarching community engagement benefits that are anchored in the City’s priorities to combine fiscal responsibility, environmental leadership, and community investment to create lasting, replicable change.”

Local Jobs, Local Students, Local Impact
This program has strengthened local workforce development and community participation in the project itself. Some of the notable highlights over the project thus far include: 1) a local contractor outreach fair that led to the hiring of a local, woman-owned roofing company to perform work; 2) hiring a CivicSpark Fellow to work directly on the City’s Climate Action Plan, along with hiring paid interns from local colleges to help advance the City’s housing, and environmental initiatives; and 3) the inclusion of direct, student-focused STEAM offerings as part of the overall program. Youth engagement programming centered on STEAM has included 1,500 solar science kits distributed through the library system, hands-on STEAM learning education programs delivered through summer and after-school camps, and a public art installation in development.

About City of Oceanside, California:
The City of Oceanside is a full-service municipality spanning 42 square miles in northern San Diego County, serving approximately 175,000 residents with police, fire, library, water, sewer, harbor, airport, parks, and beach services. With more than 1,000 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $526 million, Oceanside is committed to delivering efficient, responsive government. For more information, visit www.oceansideca.org

For more information, visit www.oceansideca.org

About OPTERRA Energy Services:
OPTERRA is headquartered in Oakland, California, and employs nearly 300 energy professionals. OPTERRA’s services and solutions have helped customers ranging from municipalities, K-16 education, special districts and state and federal agency partners achieve over $3 billion in guaranteed energy cost savings to date. For more information please visit: www.opterraenergy.com.

Broward County project recognized for its infrastructure improvement and modernization of public facilities.

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Learn more about Oceanside’s comprehensive energy project with OPTERRA Energy Services and reach significant milestones in the latest City-wide newsletter. Our project together includes infrastructure upgrades, as well as new solar PV generation and storage capacity, which combined, aims to save $26 million over the course of 30 years.

Bundling efficiency and modernization with community benefits: Solano County, California.

Paris-Union School District 95 is preparing to take the next big step in transforming its school facilities. A proposed vote on August 11 could greenlight $500,000 for OPTERRA Energy Services to begin designing much-needed upgrades across the district.

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OPTERRA Energy Services has partnered with the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS) to help over 500 districts modernize facilities and improve learning environments. The partnership provides free assessments, funding expertise, and turnkey solutions to reduce costs and support rural school progress statewide.

With roots extending over five decades, ENGIE Services U.S., now OPTERRA brings deep experience in delivering comprehensive energy solutions to public sector organizations. Its portfolio includes more than 9,000 completed projects for municipal governments, federal agencies, and educational institutions across North America.

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Salinas Union High School District is working with OPTERRA to enhance and improve their sustainability profile through clean energy. As part of the program, OPTERRA has worked with the dedicated students and teachers leading Salinas High School’s Green Academy curriculum and community engagement. Once construction on the technology upgrades is complete, OPTERRA will provide the District with a Living Laboratory online dashboard, professional development, and hands-on opportunities for teachers across the District to make the solar and energy efficiency work come to life.

Indian Wells Valley Water District is controlling water rates and energy costs through a partnership with OPTERRA. The solar and energy conservation program is expected to achieve $9.38 million in net savings over the 30-year program life and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to removing 574 cars from highways annually.

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• Learn more here. about the topic listed