PA Environment Digest Blog: DCED Now Accepting Applications For PA Solar For Schools Grants

The Department of Community and Economic Development is now accepting applications for the Solar For Schools Grant Program, a bipartisan initiative passed into law in 2024.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The funding is separated into three regions to ensure balanced distribution across the state.

The program received another $25 million in the 2025-26 state budget, following the initial state investment of $25 million.

“Schools are facing a massive energy affordability crisis, just like people are at home with their utility bills,” said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila, who sponsored the initial legislation. “Year one of the Solar for Schools Program was a huge success, and applications are now opening at a perfect time for year two of the program. As prices go up and the federal government continues to slash programs and funding to increase renewable energy supply in PA, our state government must step up to help produce more energy right here in PA. Solar for Schools shows that we have the bipartisan support, in both chambers, to achieve this.”

School districts, charter schools, career and technical schools, community colleges, and intermediate units are eligible to apply now on the DCED website.

“I am glad to see Solar for Schools moving forward again this year and I encourage schools, especially in our rural communities, to apply now that the window is open,” said Sen. Lynda Culver, R-Columbia/Luzerne/Montour/Northumberland/Snyder. “This program can help schools lower long-term energy costs and redirect those dollars back into classrooms, all while keeping the upfront burden low for local budgets. I am grateful to Rep. Fiedler for leading this effort and for working to ensure schools across Pennsylvania can benefit.”

“The Solar for Schools Grant Program is a perfect example of what can happen when we work across the aisle and focus on real results for taxpayers,” said Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Beaver/Greene/Washington. “By helping school districts reduce one of their highest operating costs, this program is already saving schools — and the families who support them — hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the potential for millions more over time. That’s a win for our schools, a win for taxpayers, and a win for communities across Pennsylvania.”

"Despite rhetoric and misinformation to the contrary, solar is a great solution for schools, offering tremendous benefits for both local taxpayers and the environment,” said Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre. “With peak usage during daylight hours and abundant, unused rooftop space, schools are ideal locations for solar arrays. Especially now, when energy costs are skyrocketing, solar just makes sense. Local schools here in Centre County are already enjoying significant savings and I look forward to the continued growth of this pragmatic, proven, and responsible program across PA. Solar for Schools is a trifecta: benefiting taxpayers, schools, and the environment."

“Our GET Solar program has successfully guided almost 30 school districts through the Solar for Schools grant process, and we look forward to helping even more,” said Sharon Pillar, founder and executive director of the PA Solar Center. “Energy bills have risen significantly over the past few years, and they show no signs of stopping. However, large consumers of energy like schools can often save tens of thousands of dollars or more on their electric bills by going solar. Many have almost eliminated their electric bills and have redirected that savings back into the classroom.”

Click Here for a copy of the PA Solar Schools announcement.

Visit DCED’s Solar for Schools Grant Program webpage for all the details.

Resource Links:

-- PA Solar Center - G.E.T. Solar Schools Assistance Program

-- Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn. - PA Solar Schools Toolkit

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 3 to 30: 56 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations Start The Year; 1.2 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluid Lost; Shale Water Pipeline Freezes; 1.5 Million Gallons Of Wastewater To Remove [PaEN

-- DEP: Day 455 And Counting: Seneca Resources Continues To Release Wastewater, Frack New Shale Gas Wells At Taft Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Owner Of At Least 43 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Issued Violations For 6 More On State Game Lands In Venango County; Efforts To Locate The Owner Have Been Unsuccessful [PaEN]

-- DEP: Eureka Resources Has Until Jan. 31 To Remove All Wastewater From Its 3 Closed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plants; About 1.5 Million Gallons Of Wastewater Remains In Bradford County Facility [PaEN]

-- DEP: Range Resources Force Heating, Cutting Apart Frozen Polyethylene Shale Gas Water Pipeline To Release Water, Ice In Mount Pleasant Twp., Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Failed To Submit Area Of Review Reports To Identify Possible Conflicts With Other Wells Prior To Start Of Drilling 4 Shale Gas Wells In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County.