Solar for Schools grant program sees overwhelming demand statewide
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler March 6, 2025 | 12:16 PM
HARRISBURG, Mar. 6 – The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) released data on Solar for Schools applications that indicates overwhelming demand for the program. School districts across Pennsylvania requested a total of $88,087,001—more than triple the amount of available funding.
DCED accepted applications for its initial $25 million appropriation through Jan. 31, 2025. 88 grant applications from 25 counties in urban, rural, and suburban areas were received.
Introduced by state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., the program is designed to help fund solar installations at school districts. It is a sweeping response to some of the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvanians, including school funding, rising costs, and climate change.
“The enormous response from schools across the commonwealth, spanning 24 counties, indicates the immense need for creative solutions to our school funding crisis. It also tells us that there is a strong desire statewide for strategic investments in renewable energy,” Fiedler said. “In its pilot round alone, the demand for Solar for Schools grants far outpaces the amount of funding available, making our mission for this year’s state budget clear.”
Energy is the second-highest cost for schools, behind staffing. By generating their own renewable solar energy, districts can save millions of dollars over the life of a project, allowing them to free funds that could be used on educational resources, staff, building repairs, and student programming. Thanks to this ability to deliver tremendous savings to schools and taxpayers, the program has demonstrated that smart investments in clean energy can unite Pennsylvanians across geographic or ideological divide.
Solar for Schools was one of very few bills to pass through a divided legislature last session with broad, bipartisan support—including a 42-7 Senate vote.
“I am thrilled to see the overwhelming interest in the Solar for Schools grant program not only from the 46th Senatorial District but across our Commonwealth. Energy costs remain one of the biggest financial burdens on our schools, and this program will save districts and taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Senator Camera Bartolotta, R-Beaver/Greene/Washington. “It is clear that our local school officials need a solution, and this has encouraged them to include solar as an option for their energy source.”
The bill was also championed by a broad, “Blue-Green” coalition of both environmental and labor leaders.
“The success of Solar for Schools helps position labor at the forefront of emerging clean energy sectors,” said Robert S. Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Building Trades Council. “Pennsylvania workers have raised families through energy jobs for generations, and I know they’ll continue to do so in the future. By supporting a healthier planet and much-needed funding for our schools, Solar for Schools is work they can feel good about.”
"The overwhelming interest in Solar for Schools demonstrates how eager school districts across Pennsylvania are to adopt clean energy and lower costs for taxpayers," said Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen. "We need to continue investing in this proven program, which creates jobs while lowering energy costs and ensuring our children can breathe cleaner air."
Following the release of application data, Governor Josh Shapiro proposed a $25 million appropriation for the second year of the program in his February budget address.
DCED will award grants this spring. The full applicant list can be found at this link: Solar for Schools Applications.*
*This is the unvetted list of applications, and following review by DCED, the final number of eligible applications and amounts may change.