Kern County, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – Avantus, a California-based clean energy leader, recently hosted 8th grade students from Buttonwillow Unified School District for an educational field trip to one of its solar projects in Kern County. The visit gave students a first-hand look at how solar energy is generated and introduced them to career opportunities in the clean energy sector.

"Avantus is proud to welcome local students to one of our solar projects in Kern County, giving them an up-close look at how solar energy works and the meaningful careers it can offer," said Kevin Brokish, Vice President of Development. “We hope the field trip helps open students’ eyes to the positive impact of clean energy and the opportunities it creates in their own communities.”

The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote STEM education and raise awareness of local workforce opportunities in Kern County—home to the most utility-scale solar projects in California and a growing hub for clean energy careers.

“To ensure our students are prepared for tomorrow’s job market, we know it’s important to have a strong STEM curriculum as well as real-world activities that reinforce classroom learning,” said Heidi Witcher, Superintendent of Buttonwillow Unified School District. "We appreciate our partners who make opportunities like this possible.”

This visit reflects Avantus’ ongoing investment in education and workforce development in Kern County. Avantus recently participated in the Kern Economic Development Foundation’s 2025 Kern County Career & STEM Expo. Later this month, Avantus will join Buttonwillow USD for its Ag Day on May 19 to continue engaging students in conversations about clean energy careers.

Avantus is committed to driving economic growth in Kern County. The company has developed more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar and 5,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage across a dozen projects currently operating or under construction in the region, with several more in development. These projects support thousands of construction jobs and are expected to generate hundreds of millions in tax revenue throughout their operating life—while delivering affordable, reliable power to California’s grid.

About Avantus

Avantus is shaping the future by making reliable, low-cost clean energy a reality. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing one of the nation’s largest solar clusters and one of the first projects to beat fossil fuel prices back in 2016. Today, we are expanding the boundaries of existing technologies to build one of the largest portfolios of solar plants with integrated storage, capable of providing 20 million people with affordable, zero-emission energy – day and night.

For more information, please visit www.avantus.com and follow Avantus on LinkedIn.