PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania schools could soon trade rising electric bills for rooftop solar, as a new $25 million state grant program opens the door to hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding per district.
Nonprofit PA Solar Center will host a free online webinar Friday, January 23, from noon to 1:15 p.m. to walk school leaders through the state’s Solar for Schools grant program, which offers awards typically ranging from $300,000 to $500,000 per district, with some projects potentially qualifying for more.
Grants are being approved on a rolling basis, and districts must submit a feasibility study as part of their application. The PA Solar Center said its GET Solar technical assistance program can help schools complete those studies, understand tax incentives and special financing options, and connect with vetted solar developers.
“Our GET Solar program has already guided more than 60 school districts through the Solar for Schools grant process, and we look forward to helping even more,” said Sharon Pillar, founder and executive director of the PA Solar Center. She said energy costs have surged in recent years, squeezing school budgets, while solar installations have allowed some districts to save tens of thousands of dollars annually or eliminate electricity bills entirely.
The webinar will feature speakers from the PA Solar Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association, along with state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, who sponsored the Solar for Schools legislation.
“I’m so proud to have helped schools across the Commonwealth gain this tool to put more funds in the classrooms and not in their energy bills,” Fiedler said. She said the program supports job creation, lowers long-term costs for taxpayers, and advances environmental goals.
State officials said the grants are designed to help districts manage volatile energy prices while reinvesting savings into educational programs, staffing, and student services.
The webinar is open to schools, media, nonprofits, and government officials at no cost, though registration is required. Those interested can sign up at https://secure.everyaction.com/Hj_J58ddhE-jjO_4gtjGIA2.
With applications moving quickly, advocates say the session could prove pivotal for districts weighing whether solar power can help stabilize budgets and redirect dollars back into classrooms.
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