Last fall, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding for clean energy improvements at elementary schools across the country. The 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant supports energy improvement projects, including new HVAC systems, building envelope and lighting upgrades, electric vehicles and infrastructure, and renewable energy technologies.

The three-phase, $190 million investment, made possible by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is intended to help K-12 public schools make energy upgrades to decrease energy use and costs, improve indoor air quality and foster healthier environments for students and teachers by providing grants to fund projects focusing on two areas:

• Projects with high-impact energy-efficiency and health improvements that could reduce school energy costs, increase energy efficiency or improve indoor air quality
• Innovative energy technology packages that incorporate one or more energy improvements, such as energy-efficiency measures, installation of renewable energy technologies or infrastructure on school grounds for alternative fuel vehicles 

In August 2024, the DOE awarded 21 Phase One winners, each of which will earn a $300,000 cash prize for building diverse teams, identifying facilities with compelling needs for improvements and outlining the processes of project planning and design.

Sixteen of these prize winners will advance to the next two phases, during which they will enter into cooperative agreements with DOE for up to $15 million in awards, with plans to invest in 320 schools in 25 states to directly benefit more than 123,000 students and 9,100 teachers. 

"With today’s funding, DOE is creating new pathways for districts and partners so thousands of students can learn in safe, sustainable schools, creating a healthy environment for all,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

Benefits of the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant include the creation of jobs and the “upskilling” of the American workforce that is building infrastructure to support a net-zero economy. Following the Investing in America Agenda, 88% of those selected will provide workforce training through community-based apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs, university programs and job shadowing. About 63% have committed to engage local labor. Finally, 44% have committed to engage, partner or contract with community-based organizations, tribal entities, women-focused programs or women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses or veteran business enterprises. 

The grant aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative for environmental and economic justice by directing benefits of the projects to disadvantaged and marginalized communities first.

“This investment in K-12 schools helps address a sector in critical need of support. Energy consumption is the second-highest operational expense for schools, costing billions of dollars every year, with energy infrastructure that struggles to meet the needs of students and teachers,” says Kate Mosley, program manager, schools and nonprofits. “Not only will the projects funded through the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant address this problem, but they will also serve as models for districts across the country, demonstrating how we can build healthy, sustainable, and energy efficient schools.”