Eight Ky. schools receive $310,000 in grants for energy, learning environment upgrades

Grants will help schools be safer and more energy efficient.

(Story Courtesy of Kentucky Today)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Eight Kentucky schools are among more than 100 across the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Southeast U.S. service area that will receive grants to help them be safer and more energy efficient.

The TVA’s nationally recognized School Uplift program is awarding a total of $3 million in grants for energy and learning environment upgrades, each of which ranges from $10,000 to $400,000.  

The utility says the program can help schools save about 10% on their energy bills through behavior changes alone. TVA has invested $7.87 million and helped 225 schools save on their energy bills since 2021. According to TVA, when combined with energy savings from grant-funded upgrades, this year’s participants will save an estimated 9 GWh of energy, which is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by 1,241 homes in one year.  

“TVA and our 153 local power company partners have worked to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and we are especially proud of the impact of our School Uplift program since children are our most important asset,” said Monika Beckner, vice president, TVA Energy Services and Programs. “Reducing energy costs makes more dollars available for educational purposes and improving the quality of the learning environment for both students and teachers helps give every child the opportunity to succeed.”   

In Kentucky, $10,000 grants were awarded to Todd County Central High School, South Todd Elementary School, Fulton County Elementary and Middle School, Graves County High School and Butler County High School.

Benton Elementary School and Chandler’s Elementary School in Logan County are receiving $25,000 grants.

The largest School Uplift award in the state, $210,000, is being made to North Calloway Elementary School. 

The Tennessee Valley Authority, which was established 90 years ago, is the nation’s largest public power supplier, delivering energy to 10 million people in Kentucky and six other southeastern states.

The Kentucky service area includes Adair, Allen, Barren, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Warren and Whitley counties.