With electricity prices up 40-50 percent over the past two years, more and more schools are taking power into their own hands. Solar power, to be exact.
About 5 percent of Pennsylvania schools have already gone solar, offsetting anywhere between 65% to 110% percent of their previous energy costs per year. Some schools have even eliminated their energy bills altogether and receive revenue for excess energy through net metering. These schools are reinvesting those energy cost savings back into the classroom.
For Pennsylvania schools who haven’t flipped the switch just yet, the passage of the state’s $25 million Solar for Schools grants, should make the math of going solar even more attractive. Many schools can go solar with little money down thanks to these state grants, providing a win-win for all parties involved and saving schools thousands to millions of dollars over the lifetime of the solar system — which could in turn fund student enrichment programs or teacher raises.
Interested in the state’s “Solar for Schools” Grant?
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the “Solar for Schools” (S4S) grant program this year. Guidelines from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for the school grant application process can be found here.
The application is expected to open in January 2026. Approval is on a rolling basis, so it’s important to apply as soon as possible. In preparation, the school will need to have their board approve a resolution to apply for the grant, which means a feasibility study needs to be completed for the board’s approval at their board meeting.
We are helping to guide schools through the application process through our GET Solar Schools program, which includes technical assistance with the required feasibility study. The PA Solar Center was approved as a qualified provider for the feasibility study by DCED, and we will be holding intake calls to help schools prepare.
We also encourage you to complete an intake form below so that we can get started in evaluated your project and helping you through the process as quickly as possible.
For more details, apply to get solar today through our GET Solar Schools program!
We encourage any school to apply to GET Solar Schools to get a free solar estimate by filling out the simple Intake Form below.
We guide your organization through four steps to complete your solar installation, throughout which we serve as a trusted partner and steward. We will do the heavy lifting so that your organization or business can dedicate your time and resources to best serve your mission.
1.) Basic Solar Feasibility – Intake Form
Fill out the pre-screening form below and we will let you know if your property is a good candidate for solar and a good fit for the GET Solar program. We will also be able to answer any of your questions about the process of going solar generally and as part of our program. The GET Solar team provides a high-level design and analysis of your property’s solar opportunity. We estimate the potential production of a solar installation as well as the costs and benefits. We provide basic solar education; discuss the process of going solar; and identify basic financing strategies, including existing federal tax benefits, available grants, and loans. Once we complete this preliminary feasibility study, we will also need a complete, recent copy of your electricity bill.
2.) Request for Proposals (RFP)
The GET Solar team solicits design proposals from vetted, regional solar developers through an unbiased, competitive bidding process. The GET Solar team works with you to compile necessary documentation and engages directly with solar developers on your behalf, from organizing site visits to compiling submitted proposals. We solicit and organize the proposals so that they can be reviewed in an apples-to-apples fashion.
3.) Review and Compare Proposals
The GET Solar team helps you review the proposals you received through the RFP, providing education and support in understanding the opportunities being presented. As an unbiased consultant, we ensure you have the tools and knowledge to make the best decision for your organization, but do not influence the selection process.
4.) Financing and Implementation Support
Once your organization has selected the solar developer/proposal that best suits your organization’s needs, the GET Solar team works with you to develop a comprehensive financing strategy. We can assist your organization in identifying grants and funding opportunities while connecting you with lending organizations or financial partners. While we remain a collaborator through the contract and installation of the system, the selected solar developer becomes an invaluable partner in assisting your organization to maximize the value of your solar, including setting up a plan to commodify your Solar Renewable Energy Credits (S-RECS) and providing an operations and maintenance plan to protect your solar asset.
View our Webinars to Learn More
Join an upcoming monthly GET Solar informational webinar and workshop. Check out our Events page to learn more
Check out our latest Watts and Learn webinar on the state’s new “Solar for Schools” (S4S) grant program, which included guidelines from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. The PA Solar Center reviews the state’s new “Solar for Schools” grant program with State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler and the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.
Solar Example: The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) successfully went solar last year through the GET Solar program. It will save them an estimated $750,000 in energy costs over the next 28 years. The best part? Thanks to a specialized and simple financing package, CCAC didn’t have to put any money down for the project!
