Toppenish school district invests in clean energy to help cut expenses and help serve the community

The Brief

• Valley View Elementary in Toppenish is installing solar panels and battery storage as part of a clean energy makeover funded by state grants

• The project aims to comply with EPA energy standards while addressing a 27% increase in electricity expenses from last school year

• The system will serve as an emergency power hub for the community during large-scale outages

TOPPENISH — Valley View Elementary in the Toppenish School District is undergoing a clean energy transformation designed to slash utility expenses and provide emergency power to the community.

The district received grant funding through the Washington State Department of Commerce to install solar panels and a large battery storage system on campus. The project targets older school buildings like Valley View to make them more energy efficient and environmentally friendly while complying with EPA energy use index standards that require keeping building energy use below 45.

“We already fulfilled part of the grants which covered the LED light installations. That part of the grant was completed in June 2025, so just a couple of months ago,” said Brittany Kaple, director of public relations for Toppenish School District. “They actually started installing the solar panels last week. The full installation process for the solar panels should take place over the course of a couple of weeks. We anticipate that the battery pack will be delivered later this spring.”

The timing proves critical as energy expenses surge across the district. Electricity expenses alone jumped 27% from the 2023-24 school year to 2024-25.

“There has been a rapid increase in utility rates,” Kaple said. “A 27% increase in just one school year is a significant jump in the fees we are paying.”

The new system will store energy during the day and send it back to the grid when not in use. But district leaders say the technology will serve a broader community purpose during emergencies.

“It will also create a hub during emergencies so that we have ongoing power in the event of really large-scale power outages that affect a large portion of the grid covering this area,” Kaple said.

Valley View serves as a model project, demonstrating how clean energy upgrades benefit both schools and surrounding communities. The initiative has drawn attention from state lawmakers.

“Last month, three senators and nine of their staff members joined us to learn about the innovative ways Toppenish School District is approaching clean energy in its buildings and schools,” Kaple said. “One key project is the solar battery unit, along with LED light retrofits, the clean school bus, and other ways we are encouraging clean energy use in our schools.”

The district’s comprehensive approach includes multiple clean energy initiatives beyond the solar installation. LED light retrofits have already been completed, and the district operates clean school buses as part of its environmental commitment.

District officials expect the solar panel installation to finish in the coming weeks. The battery system is scheduled to arrive this spring, completing the clean energy makeover at Valley View Elementary.

The project represents a forward-thinking approach to school infrastructure that addresses both fiscal responsibility and community resilience. As utility rates continue climbing, the solar and battery system positions the district to reduce long-term energy expenses while providing a crucial community resource during power emergencies.

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