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Pennsylvania awarded a subsidy with a total value of 22.5 million to 73 schools in the whole state to help pay the installation of solar energy, announced on Tuesday the Commonwealth financing office.
Awards as part of the Department of Community and Economic Development Solar for schools It will provide up to USD 500,000 for each school. Solar plates, for which they help to pay, could save school districts millions of dollars energy costs, said a representative of the state of Elizabeth Fieldler (D-D-Liladelphia).
“I am very happy with each of these schools and excited, seeing names from almost every corner of the state,” said Fiedler, who introduced the provisions on creating a program last year. “I have heard from rural schools that plan to include solar panels in agricultural education and urban schools that strategically think about solar energy on a roof with a limited space. I have no doubt that the recipients will benefit from the flexibility of the program to meet the needs of their school and how to best use their strengths.”
. grant awards Come when the legislator prepares until the last month before the state budget on June 30. The current budget included up to $ 25 million for the Solar for Schools program, and Governor Josh Shapiro proposed to match this amount in the upcoming budget.
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Fiedler’s Bill, who Both chambers have passed The General Assembly with a wide bilateral support of last summer was created as a way to deal with the school financing crisis, the growing costs of utility and climate change together, her office gave her.
“With the increase in energy costs, diversifying our energy sources is more important than ever. Increased energy consumption throughout the country also puts us at greater risk due to the inappropriate energy network” (*73*) Senator Camera Bartolott (R-Greene) said. “Schools using solar panels counteract this problem, improving energy security and energy costs in Pennsylvania – saving millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money.”
He also received forceful support from the construction of trade unions, whose members will benefit from jobs in construction, which subsidies help to create.
“These new projects through Solar for schools will open the door for employees in the whole condition,” said Robert S. Bair, president of Pennsylvania Building Trades Council. “Energy work is of key importance in Pennsylvania. The work party must be at the forefront of developing industries such as Solar.”
Trade union support was partly the result of many years of effort to Strengthen relationships between environmental supporters and workwhich recognizes the adoption of renewable energy sources, requires qualified employees, as is fossil fuel plants.
In the initial round of applications for Solar for School, districts from rural, suburban and urban areas demanded $ 88 million, more than three times than the amounts available in the current budget. Fiedler said that the grants awarded were less than a full $ 25 million, because the money is divided between three regions and DCed did not find enough qualifying applications.
While interest in renewable energy is growing, and political support for such programs is expanding Solar energy still encounters obstacles in the state government. With an overwhelming response to the initial funds, Fiedler said that she hopes that at least another $ 25 million for schools will be approved as part of the next budget.
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