The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Wilkinsburg School District a $15.3 million Renew America’s Schools Prize grant.
The prize is a three-phase investment in K-12 public schools, allowing schools to improve indoor air quality, decrease energy use and costs, and foster healthier learning environments.
The districts will use the funding for maintenance, repairs, and the replacement of various energy infrastructure systems. Both districts are experiencing shrinking tax revenue and a decrease in enrollment, and are have struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic to conduct upgrades.
Upgrades include increasing the percentage of schools with air conditioning and updating and repairing school facilities to make them more energy efficient.
“Investing in our schools is investing in our future, and this funding from the Department of Energy is a crucial step toward ensuring that all students in Pittsburgh have access to safe and comfortable learning environments,” U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said. “The backlog of repairs in these schools has been piling up since the pandemic, and this funding will help to make up for lost time. Upgrading these facilities will provide students and teachers with safe and climate-controlled classrooms while reducing energy costs for schools. This project will also bring much-needed job opportunities to our communities, creating a brighter future for our students and building a stronger, more inclusive work force.”