MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio's 11th Congressional District is touting the delivery of nearly $600,000 to schools in Cuyahoga County.
"It's just an exciting day for me to be able to deliver a check for over a half a million dollars so that we can take advantage of programs that have been long overdue," Brown said Tuesday.
The money is coming from grants associated with the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the county's Solar for Schools program.
"We are bringing solar panels to Maple Heights High School and schools across Cuyahoga County," Brown, a Democrat, announced at a gathering of county leaders, students, and media in the Maple Heights High School gym this morning.
The program is providing financial backing for solar installation to five school districts, including Maple Heights, East Cleveland, Euclid, Cuyahoga Heights, and a soon-to-be-announced fifth district. A February press release from the U.S. Department of Energy lists that district as the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
"As we see the price of grid electricity go up, those systems will continue to offer more savings," Cuyahoga County Interim Director of Sustainability Valerie Katz said.
According to Katz, districts will save $30,000 to $40,000 annually with the new solar systems. She says installation costs are roughly $400,000 to $450,000, but the systems should pay for themselves between four to six years.
"After that time, it's really just free electricity," Katz added.
Maple Heights High School Principal Dr. Markiel Perkins says decreased cost is important for the district.
"We have to be fiscally responsible as a school district to our community, as well," he stated. "Those savings can go towards other school resources — they can go towards books, they can go towards adding another staff member."
Partnerships between the county's Cuyahoga Green Energy and Growth Opportunity Partners will provide additional grants of $95,000 to each district for solar installation, as well as a $50,000 forgivable loan.
"These projects should not just be reserved for the wealthiest communities," Brown said. "These are projects that we should all be able to enjoy and benefit from."
According to Brown's office, the Solar for Schools program "aims to reduce electricity costs and regional greenhouse gas emissions while increasing equitable access to clean, local, renewable energy and providing educational opportunities for K-12 students." Katz says they chose districts that were racially and economically diverse, as well as districts located in areas with higher-than-average pollution.
Per officials, these will be the first public school buildings in Cuyahoga County to have solar panels. Installation is expected to begin this fall.
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