Pennsylvania Schools Receive $22.6M for Solar Panel Installations

With the approval of funding for solar projects through the Commonwealth Financing Authority, Pennsylvania schools are poised to benefit from reduced energy costs and decreased carbon pollution, ultimately channeling more resources toward students and educators.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), led by Secretary Rick Siger, has announced an allocation of over $22.6 million to 74 schools in the state. This funding is part of the Solar for Schools Grant Program, administered by DCED and funded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). These grants are intended to assist schools in purchasing and installing solar equipment, covering associated permit fees, and supporting energy storage and utility interconnection.

The Solar for Schools initiative supports Governor Josh Shapiro’s energy plan, aiming to increase the generation of clean, affordable energy and promote job creation. In the recently enacted bipartisan 2024-2025 budget, $25 million was earmarked for the Solar for Schools grants, with a proposed additional $25 million in the 2025-2026 budget to sustain the program.

“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,” stated Secretary 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.”

Eligible applicants for these grants included school districts, intermediate units, technical schools, charter schools, and colleges. Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe emphasized, “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.”

The comprehensive list of the 74 approved projects can be accessed on the CFA website:

• Cambria County: $437,522 awarded to the Cambria Heights School District for a rooftop solar array at the elementary school, expected to save $57,570 annually in utility and maintenance costs.
• Dauphin County: $446,363 granted to the Steelton-Highspire School District for high-efficiency solar panels aimed at reducing energy costs and emissions, while also providing job opportunities and educational integration.
• Erie County: $400,000 to the Erie County Technical School for a solar project to lower the school's carbon footprint, provide energy independence, and serve as a teaching tool for renewable energy education.
• Luzerne County: $400,000 to the Hanover Area School District to install solar panels expected to cut energy costs by 78% and reduce carbon emissions by 100 metric tons annually.
• Philadelphia County: $329,323 for the Community College of Philadelphia to install solar systems on two campus buildings, projected to reduce energy costs by 4% and save $925,222 over 25 years.

The CFA also approved guidelines for the Mixed Use Revitalization Program (MRP), offering grants or loans for projects that foster economic growth through commercial and residential development. Applications will be accepted from June 1 to August 31, 2025.