The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched the $500 million Renew America’s Schools Program to promote the implementation of clean energy improvements at K-12 public schools across the country. This first-of-its-kind investment, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), aims to help school communities make energy upgrades that will decrease energy use and costs, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments.
The Renew America’s Schools Program released its first round of funding in 2022 with the Renew America’s Schools Grant. In March of 2024, it announced that applications were open for the second round of funding, the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant. This opportunity advances its efforts to stimulate investments in the K-12 energy infrastructure sector and create pathways for school districts across the country to plan, finance, and implement energy upgrades. To date, the Renew America’s Schools Program has invested $372.5 million in public school districts across America, supporting capacity-building initiatives for energy management at over two dozen Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), and funding improvement projects at approximately 410 facilities across 36 states - directly benefitting approximately 197,000 students and 14,000 teachers.
Opportunities!
Watch our most recent webinar on bird-friendly energy efficiency retrofits.
Access 35 hours of free, on-demand energy management trainings for school faculty
Questions?
Contact us at schools@doe.gov.
Subscribe for more information about the Renew America's Schools Program.
On August 5th, DOE announced the selectees of the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant, a three-phase, $190 million investment to help K-12 public schools make energy upgrades. After extensive review of submitted applications, DOE has identified 21 winners of the first phase who will receive a cash prize of $300,000 in recognition of their work building teams and identifying facilities in critical need of energy upgrades. Sixteen of these winners will move on to Phases 2 and 3, during which they will enter and execute cooperative agreements with DOE for awards ranging from $7.5 million to $15 million. These Selectees will collaborate with 104 partner organizations, including 44 subrecipient LEAs, consultants, energy service companies, utility companies, state and local government offices, financing partners, and labor unions to execute projects valued at $246,361,404 – adding more than 30% to DOE’s $190 million investment. Proposed energy improvement projects include new HVAC systems, building envelope and lighting upgrades, alternative fuel (such as electric) vehicles and infrastructure, and renewable energy technologies.
The 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant supports energy improvement projects that will:
Create cleaner, healthier learning spaces at 320 school facilities across 25 states;
Directly benefit over 123,500 students and 9,100 teachers;
Generate operational cost savings so that school districts can redirect funds to core educational initiatives.
The benefits of this funding will flow to the communities these schools are located in, many of which are disproportionally impacted by pollution and underinvestment. One hundred percent of Selectees are supporting identified disadvantaged communities (DACs), and 71% of funded school facilities are in identified disadvantaged communities; 94% serve populations in which more than 50% of students qualify for Free-and-Reduced-Price-Lunch (FRPL), and 88% serve populations in which more than 75% of students qualify for FRPL. Forty-four percent of Selectee portfolios include schools in a rural locale, and 19% include schools that serve Tribes.
Visit the 2024 Renew America’s Prize and Grant page to learn more about selectees and their projects.
The Department of Energy announced selections for the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Grant on August 5, 2024.
The Department of Energy anticipates opening applications for a third round of funding in Fall 2025.
Eligible projects include energy infrastructure improvements that reduce building operating costs—like new HVAC and ventilation systems, building envelope and lighting projects, and renewable energy technologies. Funding is also available for alternative fueled vehicles and alternative fueled vehicle infrastructure.
- Read the Press Release announcing the Selectees and Winners of the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant
- Read the Rules and learn about Teams that Applied to the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize and Grant.
- Read the Press Release announcing the opening of the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize and Grant.
- Read the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize Fact Sheet.
- Read the Press Release announcing the opening of the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize.
- Learn More about DOE Programs Supporting Energy Improvements in Schools.
Energy CLASS
Learn more about the 2024-2025 Energy CLASS.
The 2024-2025 Energy CLASS:
The Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools program (Energy CLASS) is an opportunity for energy personnel in schools to access training, coaching, and peer learning in order to better position schools for financing infrastructure upgrades.
On November 13, DOE announced the 60 local educational agencies (LEAs) who will receive coaching and 1:1 expert advice on strategic energy management, project development, funding pathways, and related topics to advance their district’s sustainability goals by participating in the 2024-2025 Energy CLASS. Learn more about the LEAs.
Free Trainings:
On August 5, the Renew America’s Schools program released an extensive library of free, on-demand Energy CLASS trainings. Through this resource, school districts can now access over 35 hours of trainings across topics such as building science, energy management, indoor air quality, and procurement strategies.
The training videos and slide decks are available now here.
Teaming Partner List
There is vast interest and opportunity for collaboration between school districts and industry experts willing to support them in meeting their energy goals. To facilitate such partnerships, and to help school stakeholders connect and communicate, DOE’s Renew America’s Schools is compiling a Teaming Partner List. Join the Teaming Partner List to let prospective partners know you are interested in working together. Please note this is not an application for any DOE programs or campaigns. View the current Teaming Partner List here.
Tools
School Needs and Benefits Assessment Resources
A compiled list of resources to support the development of a baseline energy needs assessment, with linked tutorial videos to demonstrate how DOE's resources may be combined to develop a baseline energy needs assessment.
Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools
A tool to explore and produce reports for individual school facilities based on several metrics.
- View the updated Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools Tutorial and learn how to search and run reports for a K-12 public school or public school district (also known as a Local Educational Agency, or LEA), including a public charter school.
Resources for Schools
"Windows of Opportunity: Reduce Costs & Bird Collisions with Energy-Efficient Retrofits" - Watch the videoand read the slides from the November 14 DOE webinar featuring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
- Interested in learning how your facility can make energy efficiency improvements that save money while protecting the natural environment? In this webinar, speakers from DOE and FWS discussed ways that bird-safe windows intersect with energy efficiency goals, toolkits to prevent collisions, and low to no-cost solutions that organizations can employ.
The Inflation Reduction Act has made unlimited and non-competitive clean energy tax credits available to tax-exempt entities for the first time. Schools are now eligible to receive a non-competitive cash payment from the IRS, including up to 70% cash reimbursement for eligible clean energy investments. These credits can support schools in accessing clean technologies: from solar, geothermal, and other renewables to energy storage.
"Going Deeper on IRA Tax Credits for Schools" - Watch the video and read the slides from the May 30 DOE webinar featuring UndauntedK12, the Center for Green Schools, and Loudoun County Public Schools.
- In this webinar, Loudoun County Public School shared three messages for other school districts considering elective pay. This was followed by a chance to hear from tax experts and “go deeper” into topics such as the base and bonus credits, project timelines, labor standards, and domestic content. This webinar built on the information presented in the webinar "Beyond Grants: Federal Funding for School Facilities".
"Beyond Grants: Federal Funding for School Facilities" - Watch the video and read the slides from the May 7 DOE webinar featuring Seattle Public Schools, UndauntedK12, and the Center for Green Schools.
- This webinar provided an overview of this new opportunity to drive investment into your school district, including into which credits are available and how Elective Pay, also known as Direct Pay, can be incorporated into project planning or applied to ongoing projects.
"Loan Strategies for School Energy Improvements: Part 1." - Watch the video and read the slides from our recent joint webinar with the Loan Programs Office (LPO):This webinar provides information about loan strategies applicable to school energy improvements. It may be of interest to state and local leaders, school energy champions, and prospective partners of school districts seeking energy improvements.
- Through the State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI)-Supported category of the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, LPO can augment state-administered clean energy programs, providing additional financial support to projects that align federal energy priorities with those of U.S. states. SEFI-Supported projects do not have a technology innovation requirement, so the authority expands eligibility for LPO financing to include certain projects that incorporate commercial technologies or aggregate technology-diverse projects and that receive meaningful financial support or credit enhancements from a SEFI. This means that, through the Clean Energy Financing Program, LPO can provide loan guarantees for clean energy deployment projects, including renewables and efficiency, as well as clean transportation.
"All About Energy: Tools and Resources for Schools" - Watch our recent webinar.
This webinar highlights how K-12 schools can use recently-updated, freely-available resources to pursue energy improvement projects. From identifying energy savings opportunities to estimating costs and more, these tools and resources can help school leaders develop strategic plans to lower energy costs and create safer, healthier learning environments.
- In this webinar, DOE will provide details on how to use the following:
"The Power of Partnerships" - Watch the webinar video andread the slides.
This webinar highlights different partnership models that can help school districts move forward making energy improvements. It provides examples of community-based partnerships, as well as partnerships with energy service companies, universities, and utilities. Learn what has worked well for school districts across the country engaging with these different types of partners.
- What this webinar covers:
- DOE Opportunities for Energy Improvements in K-12 Schools
- The Power of Partnerships
- School Districts & their Partners
- Resources and Announcements.
Efficient and Healthy Schools Program
A national program aimed at engaging K-12 schools to reduce energy costs and improve energy performance and indoor air quality.Better Buildings Initiative Resource for K-12 School Districts
An initiative that partners with leaders in many sectors, including school districts, to make the nation's buildings more energy efficient by accelerating investments and sharing successful best practices.Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign
The Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign engages public sector building owners across the municipal and state governments, universities and colleges, schools, and hospitals (MUSH) market and other market stakeholders to expand and enhance the use of ESPC to achieve significant energy, environmental, and cost savings benefits. The goal is for participants to collectively achieve $1 billion in measured and verified savings by 2030.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Healthy School Environments
EPA provides funding and learning opportunities on key issues related to enhancing healthy school environments.U.S. Department of Education (ED) School Infrastructure Programs (SIP)
ED has developed two new grant programs that address school infrastructure needs and challenges across the country.U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) resources explaining Elective pay and transferability
Learn more about how tax-exempt and governmental entities can benefit from clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.Financing Efficient and Healthy Retrofits
A resource for more information on solutions to access capital and finance energy efficiency projects in schools.Loan Program Office (LPO) - Solar on Schools
A resource for schools seeking financing to deploy solar energy.
Learn About Our Past Competitions
2022-2023 Renew America's Schools Grant
Selectees were announced on June 29, 2023. Due to high demand and overwhelming evidence of public need, DOE more than doubled the funding for Round 1 of the competition, from $80 million to $178 million. Local Education Agencies will now move through the award process to implement the building improvement projects they proposed, to bring cleaner air, better lighting, and more occupancy comfort to their facilities.
2022-2023 Energy CLASS Prize
In tandem with the Renew America's Schools grant, DOE launched a $4.5 million prize called the Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools Prize (Energy CLASS Prize). This two-phase, competitive award aims to support some of the nation's highest-need K-12 schools by establishing, training, and supporting energy managers - or champions - in their districts. On May 5, 2023, DOE announced 25 Winners who will each receive $100,000 and gain access to the Energy CLASS Prize Training Network.
BIL Provision 40541
Office:
State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP)
New Program:
Yes
Funding amount:
$500,000,000
Funding Mechanism:
Grant
Recipients:
Consortium of One Local Education Agency and one or more Schools, Non-Profits, For-Profits, and Community Partners
Period of Availability:
Available until expended
