How Solar Panels For Schools Pennsylvania Build A Zero Energy Building
If your school district is looking into solar panels for schools in Pennsylvania, there is now a state grant program specifically designed to help you do it.
Energy costs are one of the largest line items in any school budget. K-12 districts spend thousands every year on electricity — money that could go back into classrooms, staff, and resources.
Solar energy changes that equation. And as of 2024, Pennsylvania schools have more financial support available than ever before.
Colleges and universities have always been epicenters of progress, typically through curriculum and socially-conscious students.
As of June 2019, Millersville University can boast progress on a whole new level: its Samuel N. and Dena M. Lombardo Welcome Center is the first building in Pennsylvania to be Zero Energy Certified by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).
Discover the core principles behind creating an energy efficient building to understand how these landmarks achieve such milestones.
Here is what school districts, community colleges, and career and technical schools need to know.
What are Solar Panels for Schools Pennsylvania - The Solar for Schools Grant Program
In July 2024, Pennsylvania passed the Solar for Schools Act (P.L. 813, No. 68). State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, sponsored the bill after years of building bipartisan support across the commonwealth from labor, education, and environmental groups.
The act created the Solar for Schools grant program within the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). It is the first state-funded grant program in Pennsylvania dedicated to helping schools go solar.
Who can apply?
The grant program is open to:
Public school districts
Intermediate units
Charter schools, including cyber charter schools
Area career and technical schools
Schools for the deaf or blind
Trade and technical schools
Community colleges
Private schools are not eligible.
How Much Funding Does Your School Qualify For?
The state breaks the funding tiers down into three main categories. Your eligible grant amount will be whichever number is lower between the cash cap and the project percentage cap:
You can read this for the full eligibility guidelines for the Solar for Schools grant program.
Federal Tax Credits for Schools
On top of state grants, the federal Inflation Reduction Act introduced a direct pay option for tax-exempt organizations, including public schools and community colleges. This means schools can now receive the equivalent of a 30% federal tax credit as a direct cash payment. Even without paying federal income taxes.
That credit can be combined with the Solar for Schools grant, utility rebates, and other incentives, which means a school district could potentially cover a significant portion of the total project cost through stacked funding.
What is Zero Energy Certified?
Zero Energy certification means that, over the course of a year, “One hundred percent of the building’s energy needs on a net annual basis must be supplied by on-site renewable energy.”
To see how these net totals break down seamlessly, review our guide on how a grid-tied solar system works.
Certification is earned based on actual performance data, and not models.
The Lombardo Welcome Center’s Design
The building’s unique features include:
Over 500 rooftop solar panels
A geothermal well field
Energy-efficient lighting and HVAC
A ground-mount solar array that tracks the sun
Solar glass along the rear exterior wall, capable of generating electricity
TerraSol was brought in for the system’s complex design. Working on a brand new construction and having influence in the early planning stages was a helpful advantage.
Robert Santoleri, VP of TerraSol, explained, “We were able to design the electrical system to accept solar. We didn’t have to do any retrofitting with already existing equipment.
Everything was properly electrically sized. We were even able to ensure it was all aesthetically pleasing by keeping conduits and wire runs interior and concealed. We were able to do all that work prior to it even being built — on blueprints, really.”
Why School Districts Are Making the Switch to Solar Energy
Across the country, educational institutions are realizing the massive financial and environmental benefits of clean energy, which explains why solar schools are on the rise.
For most schools, electricity is a cost that runs year-round regardless of budget cycles or enrollment. Solar power cuts that cost directly, and the savings add up fast.
K-12 school districts save an average of $21,000 per year on energy costs after installing solar
Community colleges can save up to $100,000 annually
Career and technical schools reduce energy costs while gaining a working solar installation, and students can learn from it
Those are dollars that were going to the utility company. With solar, they stay in the district.
Rep. Fiedler put it plainly: "The more tools we give our schools so they can deal with their costs, so they can put those dollars back into the education and enrichment of the next generation of Pennsylvania — and being able to save money for taxpayers."
Solar installations save money, provide clean energy, and fit dynamically into school curricula. Technical schools can use them to train students for the trades, and learning demonstrates how solar power supports the future of sustainable education by providing students with hands-on STEM opportunities.
Commitment to Sustainability and Visibility
The Welcome Center is proof of Millersville’s overall commitment to sustainability. According to Dr. Daniel Wubah, president of Millersville University, the school aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
As part of that commitment, it was important that the Welcome Center not just fulfill its energy goals but also serve as a visible example of what’s possible in solar energy.
That’s why, while most of the panels are on the rooftop, the dual-axis tracker was installed on the lawn, and PV glass was used in lieu of windows on the south façade to reach the school’s desired kilowatt count.
The Results
From 2018 to 2019, the Lombardo Welcome Center generated 204,391 kWh of electricity: 75% more energy than it used.
It achieved an energy use intensity of 25 kBtu/square foot/year. That’s 70% more efficient than the average university building at 84.3 kBtu/sf/year.
The Center saw these results in spite of 2018 being one of the wettest years on record. Sustainability director Chris Steuer noted that even on the second coldest day of the year, it still generated more energy (576 kWh) than it used (555 kWh) – “because the day had clear blue skies allowing plenty of light to hit the array.”
In addition to earning the Zero Energy Designation, the Lombardo’s Welcome Center’s performance makes it one of the top five most positive energy ILFI-certified buildings in the U.S.
Following the success of the Welcome Center, TerraSol is eager to help more schools fulfill renewable energy goals.
“We hope that Millersville becomes a model for what other schools should be doing,” Santoleri said. “Ultimately, what we all want in the solar industry is educated young people who are interested in continuing the important work of sustainable energy. What better way to achieve it than by setting examples at universities?”
By taking these visible steps, forward-thinking districts can truly set a green example for the leaders of tomorrow.
Ready to Look at Solar for Your School?
Demand in the first grant round made one thing clear - school districts across Pennsylvania want to go solar, and funding has been the main obstacle. The Solar for Schools program is a direct answer to that.
For districts that missed the first round, or for schools planning ahead for future grant cycles, the right first step is understanding what a solar for school installation would cost and what savings it would generate for your specific buildings.
TerraSol Energies works with schools throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware on solar energy projects — from initial assessment through installation and grid connection. To learn more about solar panels for schools in Pennsylvania, contact TerraSol Energies at (888) 873-9995 or request a proposal online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Solar for Schools grant program in Pennsylvania?
The Solar for Schools grant program is run by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Signed into law in 2024, it provides grants covering up to 50% of a solar project's cost for eligible public schools, community colleges, and career and technical schools across Pennsylvania.
Which schools can apply for solar grants in Pennsylvania?
Public school districts, intermediate units, charter schools, area career and technical schools, schools for the deaf or blind, trade and technical schools, and community colleges are all eligible. Private schools do not qualify.
Can Pennsylvania schools get a federal tax credit for going solar?
Yes. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, tax-exempt organizations, including public schools, qualify for a 30% direct pay credit — a cash payment equivalent to what a taxable entity would receive as a tax credit.
How much can a school save by switching to solar?
K-12 school districts save an average of $21,000 per year on energy costs. Community colleges can save up to $100,000 annually. Actual savings depend on building size, current utility rates, and system size.
How long does it take to install solar panels on a school?
Most school solar projects take several months from signed proposal to activation, depending on system size, permitting, and scheduling. Working with an experienced installer reduces delays in permitting and utility interconnection, ensuring proper configuration for testing solar power voltage and amperage long-term.
What does a solar project proposal need to include for the grant application?
Grant applications through the DCED require project cost estimates, system design specifications, expected energy output, and documentation of projected savings. TerraSol can help prepare accurate figures for your application.
