Clean Green Schools Initiative

The P-12 Schools: Clean Green Schools Initiative provides funding to public schools across New York State that traditionally lack resources to invest in infrastructure improvements. The program aims to help eligible schools become healthier, more productive learning environments by improving environmental sustainability, reducing energy loads, decarbonizing building portfolios, improving indoor air quality (IAQ), enhancing extreme heat resilience, and providing clean energy educational opportunities.

Eligibility encompasses all public school districts across New York State designated as Priority Districts, public school buildings, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) buildings located in disadvantaged communities. The program is competitive and provides construction project funding for decarbonization and extreme heat resilience enhancements, including comprehensive retrofits impacting energy consumption and overall building load, electrification readiness projects, and conversion of central heating and/or cooling plants to clean energy technologies such as heat pumps. Project costs are up to 100% funded, with a maximum possible funding amount of $5,050,000 per building and $10,050,000 for multiple buildings. Proposers must highlight carbon reduction, improved indoor air quality outcomes, and a clear path towards decarbonization.

Clean Energy Educational and Professional Development Activities funding is available for eligible activities creating or furthering clean energy educational opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and surrounding communities. NYSERDA supports workforce development and student educational activities for P-12 students that explore, support, or promote decarbonization efforts. These activities are up to 100% funded with a cap of $30,000 per building ($100,000 for multiple buildings) for student and educational staff activities. Up to $50,000 of additional funding is available for School Facilities Staff Training supporting operation and maintenance training on new equipment and building systems installed through the project.

Multiple application deadlines are available: Round 1 due 07/27/2022, Round 2 due 06/06/2024, and Round 3 due 08/18/2026.