Pennsylvania enacts the Solar For Schools Act

Benefits of the Solar for Schools Act

Cost Savings for Schools

School districts that go solar could save significantly on electricity costs, since energy costs are the second-highest operational expense schools face after staffing. Schools can balance their budgets without sacrificing key programs by simply trimming utility bills, yet only 2% of Pennsylvania K-12 schools are taking advantage of this common-sense budget solution. At a time with volatile global energy markets and rising electricity prices, installing solar provides stability to a school district’s budget and enables schools to invest more tax dollars into student learning and other critical needs.

Workforce Development and STEM Education for Students

Pennsylvania schools and community colleges can use onsite solar projects to provide students with hands-on job training for fast-growing careers and real-world, STEM education. Solar PV installer is projected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations this decade, and schools need to be preparing graduates to fill these high-paying jobs. A recent survey found that 84 percent of clean energy employers in Pennsylvania are already having a hard time filling open positions with trained workers. The Solar for Schools Grant Fund will enable schools to develop new clean energy projects that support student learning, build a pipeline of needed solar workers, and create local jobs. 

Energy Independence and Resilience

Every school across the Commonwealth has access to abundant solar energy that can be harvested to generate electricity onsite and increase energy independence. The grant program helps fund solar energy projects that include battery storage to make school campuses resilient to power outages and able to serve as reliable emergency centers for the community. 

Increased Affordability for Disadvantaged Schools

High-poverty communities are eligible to receive grants for a higher percentage of eligible project costs. This state grant can be combined with the new federal grants and funding opportunities made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act in order to cover the costs of a solar project and ensure the benefits of solar energy are accessible to underserved, disadvantaged, and energy communities throughout the Commonwealth.