The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a notice of intent announcing $80 million to help make schools more energy efficient and reduce their energy bills.
According to an Oct. 26 news release, the money is funded by Presdident Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will benefit some of the highest-need K-12 schools in the country.
“Nearly half of our nation’s school districts – and disproportionately low-income and rural districts – struggle to maintain aging facilities and ensure classrooms are free from health hazards,” U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in the news release.
According to the news release, the funding is the first from the Renew America’s Schools grant program, spawned from the infrastructure law.
The DOE will also kick off the Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools Prize (Energy CLASS Prize) program, which will earmark $4.5 million for as many as 25 local educational agencies to fund training and implementation of health and energy improvements, the release reported. The DOE noted each agency will receive $100,000 in exchange for a manager’s participation in 80 to 160 hours of virtual training.
Granholm also noted the funding is made possible by Biden’s signature legislation, which will foster better learning enviromnents for students and reduce energy costs for districts, according to the release.
