PaCE launches second round of solar matching grants for state schools

PaCE launches second round of solar matching grants for state schools

Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 11:27 am
Duke Energy Release

COLUMBIA, S.C. – More South Carolina students may see solar panels on the rooftops of their classrooms this year thanks to a second round of a matching fund program sponsored by Palmetto Clean Energy (PaCE), a South Carolina nonprofit that promotes renewable energy resources.

The Solar Grant Program – first introduced last year – will again target K-12 schools in South Carolina, and this year will also consider other education-focused nonprofits, such as museums, science and nature centers, zoos and aquaria. In total, PaCE aims to disburse $250,000 in this round of funding. Institutions may use grants to cover 50 percent of a rooftop solar installation or up to $50,000 per installation.

"We are launching a second round of solar grants since the program was so well received initially. Now more South Carolina students will have the opportunity to learn about renewable energy technologies in our state and see solar power at work," Robert Long, chairman of the PaCE board of directors, said.

The program is aimed at enabling more schools and other nonprofit educational institutions to take advantage of solar technologies by assisting with upfront costs involved with installation.

The program is funded by a previously announced contribution by Duke Energy. The contribution was part of a settlement agreement reached with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and the Coastal Conservation League (CCL) during the Duke Energy-Progress Energy merger.

Requirements of the Solar Matching Grant Program and application forms are available at:

http://www.palmettocleanenergy.org/renewable/solar_matching_guidelines.asp.

Application forms are due June 16, 2014. Awards will be announced July 23, 2014.

Last year, five applicants were selected for funding in the first round Solar Matching Grant Program:

• Bluffton High School (Beaufort County School District)
• Dixie Plantation Educational Holdings LLC, Environmental Research Stations at Dixie Plantation (College of Charleston)
• Griggs Road Elementary School (Clover School District)
• Roper Mountain Science Center (Greenville County School District)
• Whale Branch Early College High School (Beaufort County School District)

Installation work at these schools will begin in the coming months.

Palmetto Clean Energy is a nonprofit renewable energy organization designed to encourage the development of renewable energy resources that improve the environment through reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. PaCE is a collaborative effort among Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and South Carolina Electric & Gas, working with the South Carolina Energy Office and the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff to provide more than 1.2 million South Carolina customers with an opportunity to support green energy initiatives through tax-deductible contributions. These contributions are collected by the utilities and distributed to PaCE in their entirety. For more information or to make a contribution to PaCE, visit www.palmettocleanenergy.org.