Cherry Creek School District Launches Electric School Bus Depot Project

Debashish Mukherjee — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:37:00 +0200

The Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) will mark the beginning of construction on a new electric school bus facility with a groundbreaking ceremony. The project represents a significant step in the District’s efforts to modernize student transportation through a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, a leading North American provider of Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS). Under the agreement, Highland will supply six bidirectional-capable Type C IC electric school buses, six 60kW bidirectional charging stations, fleet electrification expertise, and ongoing operational support.

This deployment forms part of Xcel Energy’s bidirectional charging demonstration program. Through this initiative, electricity stored in the buses’ batteries can be returned to the power grid during periods of high demand when the buses are not transporting students. The project is supported by funding that includes $2.4 million from Xcel Energy’s electric school bus rebate program, along with additional operational incentives.

“Cherry Creek School District is committed to pursuing opportunities that benefit both the environment and taxpayers,” said Dr. Jennifer Perry, Interim Superintendent of CCSD. “This partnership advances our sustainability objectives while creating long-term operational efficiencies.”

The program provides the District with six electric school buses through a lease arrangement costing approximately $20,000 annually per vehicle. When fuel and maintenance expenses are considered, the lifetime ownership cost of a conventional diesel bus over a 12-year period is significantly higher than that of the electric buses offered through this initiative. After reviewing several fleet electrification options, the District concluded that this program delivered a competitive total cost of ownership, strong long-term value, and included the charging infrastructure and support services necessary for successful operations. Additionally, Highland and Xcel Energy will fund all required infrastructure upgrades, while Highland will handle maintenance beyond routine inspections and servicing.

Electric school buses offer several advantages over diesel-powered vehicles. They operate at substantially lower noise levels—up to four times quieter—helping create a more comfortable environment for both students and drivers. Their simplified design, featuring approximately 97% fewer moving parts than diesel buses, reduces maintenance requirements, lowers operating costs over time, and minimizes exposure to fluctuations in diesel fuel prices.

“School buses are among the most visible and frequently utilized assets within a community, making them an ideal candidate for electrification,” said Brian Buccella, Chief Commercial Officer at Highland Electric Fleets. “Cherry Creek School District is developing a transportation program that not only modernizes student travel but also demonstrates how bidirectional charging can contribute to grid reliability and broader energy management objectives.”

The Electric School Bus Depot Groundbreaking Ceremony will take place on June 4 at 10:30 a.m. at 16500 E. Smoky Hill Road in Aurora, Colorado.

NRG Energy releases 2021 Sustainability Report

Debashish Mukherjee — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 13:32:00 +0100

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
We have long recognized the importance of climate change and have worked to leverage market-driven solutions to address the issue. We also believe in being open about how we manage climate-related impacts in our business and operations.

Targets
NRG is aiming for a 50% reduction in GHG emissions from our current 2014 baseline by 2025, and net-zero emissions by 2050. Our target addresses NRG's direct emissions (scope 1), purchased energy (scope 2), and employee business travel (scope 3). We are proud to have had our emissions reduction targets approved by the SBTi — first in 2015, and more recently in March 2021, when our current goal was declared to be 1.5°C-aligned, the most ambitious designation available at the time, and what the most recent climate science has told us is required to avoid the most damaging effects of climate change.

NRG is the first and only power company in North America to receive this designation, and one of only twelve worldwide at the time of certification.

NRG added a new sustainability goal in 2021 to achieve 100% electrification of our light-duty vehicle fleet by 2030 to further strengthen our sustainability commitments. We joined the Climate Group's EV100, a global initiative that brings together companies committed to making electric transportation the new normal by 2030, as part of this goal.

The path to one and a half: • 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 20251

achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
Our vehicle fleet will be completely electric by 2030.

Progress towards goals
Between the current 2014 baseline and 2021, the company's CO2e emissions fell from 61 million metric tons to 34 million metric tons, a 44% reduction, or the equivalent of avoiding nearly 68 billion miles driven by an average passenger vehicle. The decrease is attributed to lower fleet-wide annual net generation and a market-driven shift away from coal and toward natural gas as a primary fuel. The increase in emissions in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily due to higher power demand as a result of the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and the associated economic recovery.

We are on track to meet our goal of achieving a 50% reduction by 2025. NRG's Annual Report on Form 10-K also discusses NRG generation from all of the fuels in our portfolio, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, oil, and renewables.

In 2021, 9.2 TWh, or 17.6% of NRG's power generation, was derived from nuclear and renewable sources, resulting in zero emissions.

To learn more about NRG Energy's commitments to a sustainable future, click here.

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Cherry Creek School District Launches Electric School Bus Depot Project

NRG Energy releases 2021 Sustainability Report