South Carolina School Districts will Share $20.3 Million in Federal Grants, Loans to Save Energy
April 10, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – April 10, 2009 – South Carolina’s 85 school districts will share $20.3 million in federal stimulus grants and loans to make immediate provements to building energy and lighting systems, the State Budget and Control Board announced today.
Districts are getting nearly half of the $45.7 million in stimulus funds being distributed by the South Carolina Energy Office to help pay for energy conservation efforts by schools, higher education institutions, local governments and state agencies.
The money includes $35.7 million in direct grants and $10 million in zero interest loans to be distributed using a formula that gives top priority to large energy users and to projects ready for immediate implementation. Loan epayments will be used to launch a revolving energy loan program that will continue to support cost-saving improvements for years to come.
The largest school district allocation goes to Greenville County schools – $1,979,340 – followed by the Charleston County School District at $1,296,664. Dillon District One gets the smallest allocation total of $58,647.
These grants and loans will go directly toward cutting the utility bills that taxpayers fund at each of these public facilities, said Energy Office director John Clark. This program will have a very positive impact for both public budgets and the environment. The economic impact will also be significant because most funds will be used to buy goods and services in the private sector.
Under terms of the federal stimulus legislation, the state’s two- and four-year colleges will receive a total of $12.2 million. State agencies that own their facilities will receive $7.4 million. To obtain funding, school districts, colleges and agencies must apply to the state Energy Office. Applications and guidelines will be available by April 30.
Eligible projects include retrofits for energy efficient lighting, heating/air conditioning systems and energy management systems. Other types of energy cost-saving projects will be eligible as well.
South Carolina’s 10 largest cities and 10 largest counties will receive a total of $22 million in direct grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. Smaller cities and counties will be eligible to compete for $5.7 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds. These funds will support energy efficiency improvements in government buildings.
An additional $13 million in stimulus funds flowing through the state Energy Office will be used for energy job training, residential energy efficiency evaluation and assessment and renewable energy. Further details will be announced later.
