With a ranking as a Top 10 State for solar capacity at K-12 schools, Pennsylvania is emerging as a national leader in clean energy for schools. According to a new report from clean energy nonprofit Generation180, Pennsylvania K-12 schools more than tripled the amount of solar installed from 14 to 45 MW in the last 10 years. During the last decade, the number of statewide K-12 schools with solar installations nearly doubled from 63 to 124.
Last year, the Solar for Schools Act created a new opportunity for Pennsylvania schools to access the financial and educational benefits of solar energy. Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) announced the recipients of 73 grants totaling $22.6 million from the Solar for Schools Grant Program to help fund new solar projects at public schools. The grant program is helping to fund an estimated 42 MW of new solar capacity, which would almost double the solar power generated by statewide K-12 schools. Once installed, these solar installations are projected to save nearly $5 million in annual energy costs, freeing up critical resources to invest in essential programming and enhanced classroom learning.
The Solar For Schools grants range between $42,000 to $500,000 (or up to 50% of total solar project costs). This funding can be stacked on top of federal energy tax credits, which are currently available to schools using Elective Pay. By combining state and federal incentives, a school could recoup between 60% and 100% of the solar project costs.
“Pennsylvania’s schools are stepping up as clean energy leaders — not only cutting energy costs but also creating healthier learning environments and hands-on STEM opportunities for students,” said Shannon Crooker, Pennsylvania director at Generation180. “With new support from the Solar for Schools Grant Program and growing momentum across the state, we’re just beginning to tap into the full potential of solar to power our schools and our future.”
Solar adoption has doubled every five years at rural PA Schools
The new report also found that since 2010, solar adoption by schools in rural locales has doubled roughly every five years. Before 2020, solar adoption by Pennsylvania K-12 schools was concentrated in the eastern half of the state, particularly in urban and suburban communities in the southeastern region. Over the past five years, solar adoption by K-12 schools has expanded westward, with significant growth in the towns and rural communities of central Pennsylvania. New rural counties, such as Snyder, Perry and Forest, have now joined the movement. While this momentum is promising, only 2% of Pennsylvania’s 6,000 K-12 schools statewide have installed solar energy projects
Federal energy tax credit helps small rural school district save millions
In 2025, Huntingdon Area School District (HASD) became the first school district in Pennsylvania to complete a solar project that is eligible for the solar ITC using Elective Pay. With two of three solar projects operational in 2024, the district plans to file for a federal energy tax credit through Elective Pay to secure over $1 million, approximately 37% of the total solar project cost. By maximizing energy efficiency and installing solar arrays at multiple campuses, HASD is projected to save $5.8 million in electricity bills over the next 20 years. These savings will be reinvested into critical educational needs and ensure long-term financial stability.
“Investing in solar is a win-win for our district — it strengthens our financial future while teaching our students the value of sustainability,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Superintendent of Huntingdon Area School District. “By leveraging Elective Pay, we’re able to tap into federal resources that made this project possible and redirect the savings back into the classroom where they’re needed most.”
This third-edition Powering a Brighter Future in Pennsylvania report follows a biennial national report from Generation180 detailing the growth and trends at U.S. K-12 schools that have embraced solar power.
News item from Generation180
