Federal Way Public Schools Recognized as a Zero+ Champion of Sustainability for Turning School Rooftops into Clean Energy

McKinstry, in partnership with Lumen Field, launched the Zero+ Champions of Sustainability Awards to recognize organizations making measurable progress in sustainability. The partners are proud to recognize Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) as a 2026 Zero+ Champion of Sustainability for using on-site solar and energy management to reduce costs, support a more resilient grid and create benefits that extend beyond its school buildings.

Serving roughly 21,000 students across nearly 40 schools in South King County, FWPS is advancing five solar projects across its district. By owning the arrays and using nearly 100% of the electricity they generate, the district can capture the value of that clean energy directly while reducing its exposure to rising utility costs.

For FWPS, the strategy is about more than producing renewable energy. It is about creating savings that can be reinvested in students and families while using school facilities to support broader community goals.

A Districtwide Approach to Clean Energy

As electricity demand grows and utility demand charges put additional pressure on school district budgets, FWPS has taken a proactive approach to managing energy costs.

The district is pairing on-site solar generation with demand management to reduce peak electricity use, when utility costs can be highest. Generating power where it is used also helps reduce the amount of electricity schools need to draw from the grid during high-demand periods.

The district owns its solar arrays outright, allowing the financial benefits of the projects to stay within the district and support its educational mission.

That connection between sustainability and affordability is particularly meaningful for FWPS, one of Washington’s most diverse school districts. The district serves families speaking more than 100 languages, including a large share of students from immigrant and low-income households. For FWPS, reducing operating costs creates an opportunity to direct more resources toward the students and communities it serves.

Five Projects, One Strategy

FWPS has advanced a portfolio of five solar projects over the past two summers. Arrays are complete at Lake Grove, Sunnycrest, Wildwood and Valhalla elementary schools. Another is complete at the district’s Support Services Center facility.

To fund the work, the district pursued Washington State Department of Commerce Solar & Storage Grants and utility incentives, combining available public funding to maximize the value of the investment for taxpayers and students.

The projects also extend beyond energy generation. FWPS incorporated workforce development by prioritizing local labor, opening opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses and connecting students with tradespeople and engineers.

Several projects also include solar-covered parking, providing an everyday facility improvement while adding another opportunity to generate clean energy on district property.

More Than Solar

The district expects solar arrays to help avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in utility costs over their operating life. Those savings represent an ongoing opportunity for FWPS to reinvest in its students and educational mission.

The district’s approach demonstrates how school infrastructure can serve multiple purposes: generating clean energy, managing operating costs, supporting the local workforce and creating hands-on opportunities for students to explore STEM and skilled trades.

By treating its schools as long-term clean-energy assets, FWPS is building a sustainability strategy that delivers value both inside and beyond the classroom.

Zero+ Champion of Sustainability

Federal Way Public Schools is demonstrating how renewable energy can be tied directly to affordability, education and community investment. Its work shows that sustainability projects can do more than reduce emissions. They can create lasting financial and educational benefits for the communities schools serve.

McKinstry and Lumen Field recognize Federal Way Public Schools as a 2026 Zero+ Champion of Sustainability for its leadership in advancing clean energy, reducing operating costs and creating opportunities for students, families and the broader community.