In an ongoing effort to increase the energy efficiency of public school buildings across the country, the Department of Energy has announced support funding availability to the tune of $180 million.
In announcing the 2024 Renew America’s School initiative, Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, remarked: “There’s nothing more critical than investing in the health and education of our nation’s children.”
The awards will focus on school heating and cooling system upgrades, lighting projects, and the use of renewable energy technologies.
According to an Energy Department press release, schools or school districts applying for grant funding are encouraged to submit proposals “across a portfolio of ten or more school facilities.”
Those facilities, in turn, may be located in one or more school districts.
“Competitors submitting proposals should be organizations or teams with the capacity to aggregate and manage projects across a portfolio,” the release continues.
Last year the program awarded upwards of $178 million for nearly one hundred school facilities located in 22 states.
Of those awarded, four were located in the West: the Carlo School District in Carlo, Montana; the Kane County School District in Kanab, Utah; the St. Maries School District in St. Maries, Idaho; and the Winnett Public School District in Winnett, Montana.
The Energy Department has announced that it is additionally encouraging partnerships between school districts and industry experts designed to create “stakeholder support networks that can provide districts earlier, more targeted assistance, help them build internal expertise, and provide pathways to additional funding.”
Submission deadline for grant applications is set for June 13.
By Garry Boulard
