May 22, 2025 By Karen Mansfield 5 min read

Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

California Area School District is among several Pennsylvania schools to receive a solar project grant. The school district received a $367,200 grant to install a ground mount system. In this photo from 2022, California Area Elementary School students display solar-powered scooters that students drive between the elementary school and the high school as part of the district’s environmental and sustainability initiatives.

Four school districts in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, along with a career and technology center and an intermediate unit were among the dozens that received a piece of the $22.6 million in state grants awarded Tuesday for solar projects.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development announced the funding as part of the Solar for Schools Grant Program. The funds will allow schools to purchase and install solar panel equipment while, state officials say, helping reduce carbon emissions and create jobs.

“Energy is one of the top expenses for schools, which is why investments in solar energy can help to maintain long-term financial stability and improve the quality of education they offer students,” said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. “Those savings can then be channeled into more resources for our teachers and students, and also create good-paying clean-energy jobs and job training opportunities.”

California Area School District was awarded $367,200 for its project, “Bright Futures: Powering Education with Solar Energy.” The 510-kilowatt ground mount system, which will be installed on the high school campus, is expected to save more than $60,000 each year, according to Superintendent Dr. Laura Jacob.

“It’s going to benefit the school district long-term, well beyond my lifetime,” said Jacob. “It will save the district in utility costs, but also it helps us model what we want to be as citizens, in finding multiple ways to save energy and to be better toward the planet. Our kids want this, too, and we’re grateful there is grant money to give us the initial funding needed to erect the solar array.”

Also in Washington County, Canon-McMillan School District is receiving $190,260 to install a 317-kilowatt roof-mounted solar array at its new Wylandville Elementary School, which is under construction with plans for completion in early 2027.

“It’s a program we wanted to take advantage of to make sure our taxpayers benefit from those available tax dollars. We’ll see a cost savings on utility costs moving forward, but we also wanted to make this a learning opportunity for our students and it ties in with our science program. There will be a learning area for kids to see how it works,” said Canon-McMillan Superintendent Dr. Gregory Taranto.

In Greene County, West Greene School DIstrict was awarded a $181,400 grant to install a 300-kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic solar system on the school campus.

Greene County Career and Technology Center will get $42,480 to install a 53-kilowatt roof-mounted photovoltaic system on its welding and construction facility, which is expected to save more than $7,300 annually. The Intermediate Unit ! will receive $259,200 for its IU1 Solar project.

In Fayette County, Albert Gallatin School District was awarded two grants totaling $534,600. South Middle School will receive $369,900 for a project, while Friendship Hill Elementary School

is the recipient of a $164,700 grant.

The school district also has applied for Inflation Reduction Act funding, and the two funding sources would cover about 90% of the cost of its array.

“Not knowing what the cost of energy is going to look like five or 10 years down the road, this is a positive thing,” said Superintendent Christopher Pegg.

School districts, intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools, chartered schools for the education of the deaf or blind, community colleges, The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and The Pennsylvania College of Technology were eligible to apply for the grants.

In all, 74 grants were awarded.

“Schools across Pennsylvania face tight budgets, and energy costs are one additional expense among a myriad of others,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “The Solar for Schools program helps ease that burden, allowing school leaders to reinvest savings directly into student learning, teacher support, and school resources. At the same time, these projects turn school buildings into living laboratories where students gain real-world experience in clean energy technology. Whether it’s through hands-on STEM education or technical training in solar installation and maintenance, this initiative prepares students for in-demand careers and helps ensure Pennsylvania’s workforce is ready to lead in the 21st Century economy.”

The grants also will help schools to cover costs for permit fees, storage and utility interconnection.

“The widespread and extended power outages that happened in Texas a few years back remind us how vital it is, as the demand for energy increases, to diversify our energy sources. We cannot be so foolish as to think we can rely on one or two ways to produce power,” said Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) in a news release. “These grants give not only our schools but also the businesses and homes in the area greater energy security, all while saving taxpayers money.”