KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — On Thursday, the TVA announced it was awarding grants totaling more than $3 million dollars to 106 schools throughout the Southeast U.S., including $225,000 to schools in East Tennessee.
The School Uplift grants, which range from $10,000 to $400,000, are designated to help schools have cleaner air and improve their energy efficiency. Each school selected was chosen based on their achievement of cutting energy waste, engaging their school community, as well a needs based assessment.
Most of the selected schools in Tennessee were awarded a $10,000 grant, however, Clarkrange High School in Clarkrange and the Chattanooga School of Arts and Sciences were both awarded $410,000. South Side Elementary School in Johnson City was also awarded a $25,000 grant.
The other East Tennessee schools, which were each awarded $10,000, are:
- Chuckey Doak Middle School in Afton;
- Lookout Valley Middle High School in Chattanooga;
- Chuckey Elementary School in Chuckey;
- Glenwood Educational Center in Greeneville;
- Tusculum Elementary School in Greeneville;
- Midtown Education Center in Harriman;
- Hixson Middle School in Hixson;
- York Elementary School in Jamestown;
- Cherokee Middle School in Kingston;
- Midway High School in Kingston;
- Dogwood Elementary School in Knoxville;
- Halls Elementary School in Knoxville;
- Northshore Elementary School in Knoxville;
- Montvale Elementary School in Maryville;
- West Greene High School in Mosheim;
- Oneida Middle High School in Oneida;
- Ridgeview Elementary School in Rockwood;
- Rutledge Elementary School in Rutledge;
- Hancock County Early Learning Center in Sneedville;
- Ivy Academy High School in Soddy Daisy;
- Ivy Academy Middle School in Soddy Daisy;
- Skillern Elementary School in Soddy Daisy;
- Soddy Daisy Elementary School in Soddy Daisy
Some schools in Middle and West Tennessee, as well as schools in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Mississippi, were also selected for grants. To view the full list, click here.
While schools will be using the funds to improve their energy efficiency, the TVA says the grants will also be helping schools free up money for what matters, education and the learning environment. This year’s participants are estimated to save around nine gigawatts hours of electricity, the amount of energy that 1,241 homes use in one year.
“TVA and our 153 local power company partners have worked to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and we are especially proud of the impact of our School Uplift program since children are our most important asset,” said Monika Beckner, vice president, TVA Energy Services and Programs. “Reducing energy costs makes more dollars available for educational purposes and improving the quality of the learning environment for both students and teachers helps give every child the opportunity to succeed.”
Since 2021, the TVA has given more than $7.87 million to help schools save on their energy bulls through the School Uplift program. The State of Tennessee’s Energy Efficient Schools Initiative also partnered with the TVA to invest $2.5 million in the School Uplift program. To learn more about the School Uplift program, visit the TVA’s website.
