Energy Department Announces Up to $100 Million to Lower School Energy Costs and Modernize Facilities

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) today announced a funding opportunity of up to $100 million to help public school districts reduce facility operating costs, improve the reliability of essential building systems, and develop financeable improvement plans that maximize public and private investments.

“Every student deserves a comfortable place to learn, and every school should have the resources to make that possible,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re helping school districts make smart, practical improvements that create better learning environments for students, reduce energy costs, and allow districts to direct their resources where they matter most.”

The competitive Affordability + Strategic Energy Pathways for Schools (A+STEPS) opportunity is part of the $500 million Renew America’s Schools Program to promote energy improvements at K–12 public schools across the country. The program will help school communities make energy upgrades to decrease costs and foster healthier learning environments.

For the first phase of A+STEPS, DOE anticipates selecting four to eight regional hubs, each of which will be awarded $2–5 million per funding round to train school facility staff, coordinate technical providers, and provide districts with tools and data.

Once selected, regional hubs will provide training to school district energy managers, help districts develop strategic energy plans, connect districts to financing and project-development assistance, and support limited early building improvements. Schools and local education agencies will be eligible for up to $250,000 for projects that may include building audits, HVAC ventilation and building controls, building envelope retrofits, electrical infrastructure upgrades, load studies, and building monitoring analytics.

DOE expects regional hub applications to open in November. Instructions for interested applicants will be posted on the A+STEPS opportunity webpage.

At this time, individual school districts and local partners should not submit applications for regional hubs. A separate Expression of Interest form will be announced for school districts and local educational agencies in 2027, following the selection of regional hubs.

A+STEPS is managed by EnergyWerx in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization. The agreement enables EnergyWerx to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and nontraditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of energy solutions.