A South Bay school district is installing dozens of solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations at its elementary and middle schools – and the ambitious energy project is apparently causing concern among more than a few residents.

According to Cupertino Union School District officials, this initiative will help reduce the district’s carbon footprint and provide educational opportunities for students.

However, many residents of the schools complain that they have been kept in the dark about the details and are calling on the district to provide more information about the project and its impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

“I would have expected more information about what is happening,” said Bharath Pattabiraman, who lives near Stocklmeir Elementary in Sunnyvale. “It will have a significant impact on our neighborhood and our daily lives.”

In February, the Cupertino Union School District — which consists of 17 elementary schools and five middle schools in Cupertino, San Jose Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Los Altos — announced that it would partner with energy company ENGIE North America to install 5.1 megawatts of photovoltaic systems — the equivalent of about 20 to 30 acres of solar panels — at all of its schools. The project will also install 72 electric vehicle charging stations on several campuses, including four at Stocklmeir, and two backup generators at the district office and maintenance yard in Sunnyvale.

CUSD is not the first school district in the Bay Area to make this type of energy transition. Hayward Unified School District also worked with ENGIE to implement a similar project that was completed in 2019. The solar panels were expected to meet 90% of the district’s energy needs and provide $65 million in energy savings that could benefit the district.

Discussions about using solar energy began at CUSD in 2019, when a facilities plan identified energy efficiency as a districtwide priority, according to CUSD spokeswoman Erin Lindsey. A public hearing on the ENGIE project was held in November 2023.

“This project aligns with CUSD’s commitment to sustainability and creates valuable educational opportunities for our students,” Lindsey said. “Including hands-on STEM learning opportunities for students and teachers across the district.”

The project is being funded by a $39 million tax-free lease and about $8.5 million in federal funds. The district expects to save $36 million in energy costs over the next few years.

Construction began this summer, with much of the construction expected to be completed by October and the rest by 2025, according to Lindsey. However, community members still have questions about the logistics of the project.