Beyond Grants: Federal Funding for School Facilities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Schools program, in partnership with UndauntedK12 and Center for Green Schools, provided an overview of new opportunities to drive investment into your school districts. School leaders and partners involved in financing, capital planning, facilities, and sustainability were invited to this webinar on May 7 for an overview of new clean energy tax credits for schools.

Unlimited and non-competitive clean energy tax credits are available for the first time to tax-exempt entities, due to the Inflation Reduction Act. As such, schools are now eligible to receive a non-competitive cash payment from the IRS for eligible clean energy investments, including for up to 70% cash reimbursement. From solar, geothermal, and other renewables to energy storage, these credits can support schools in accessing clean technologies.

This webinar provided insight into which credits are available and how it can be incorporated into project planning or applied to ongoing projects. Richard Best, the Director of Capital Projects and Planning at Seattle Public Schools shared his perspective on how leveraging the clean energy tax credits can save school districts money on the up-front costs of new equipment and on long-term energy savings.