Meadows Union School District unveils $1.9 million clean air and infrastructure upgrades
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A major infrastructure upgrade at the Meadows Union School District is clearing the air and paving the way for a cleaner future for local students.
In a collaborative partnership with energy services firm SiteLogiq and the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, school officials officially marked the completion of a massive environmental initiative that has been in the works since 2023.
The comprehensive upgrades were made possible through nearly $2 million in funding secured under Assembly Bill 617, a state initiative targeting emission reductions in heavily impacted communities.
The financial breakdown includes $1.2 million dedicated to new electric vehicle charging stations and $731,000 for paving infrastructure.
Prior to the upgrades, the area served as an unpaved dirt lot subject to heavy traffic during school events, which frequently kicked up fine dust particles and degraded local air quality.
“All of this lot was dirt and people would park here doing events stuff, and now they don’t have to breathe all that dust now it’s all paved,” said Belen Leon Lopez, Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer. “We’re reducing air quality emissions by doing so.”
In addition to dust mitigation, the newly installed EV stations lay the groundwork for zero-emission transportation options, including the school’s electric buses.
“The EV stations are part of our future,” Leon Lopez added. “We need charging stations in order to have electric cars and reduce emissions as well. So all of the projects that we’re doing now are emission reduction projects under AB 617, and we’re proud to help all of the school districts in order for us to help for a better quality of life.”
Air pollution officials emphasized that transforming these school sites requires extensive coordination and administrative endurance. This particular project commenced development in 2024 and wrapped up final construction in 2026.
“It does take time and dedication, and administrative staff has been great,” Leon Lopez noted, adding that available state funding remains open to other districts willing to navigate the extensive application and approval process. “The schools have to have a dedication to submit the projects and get them approved by us. It feels really great in order for us to do these type of projects with the schools and partner with them.”
Moving forward, air quality leaders state they are actively looking to partner with more local school districts across the region to deploy available funding, build out green infrastructure, and cultivate a healthier community.
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