Cook County 24 public schools with funding for renewable energy education

Chicago Construction News staff writer

Under Cook County’s Solar Schools Grant program, the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability awarded grant funding to 24 public schools to support the construction of small photovoltaic (PV) systems used to educate students first-hand how sunlight is converted into electricity.

The County’s program provides supplemental funding to grantees of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation’s (ICECF) K-12 Solar Schools Program, which assists with the installation of 1kW PV systems throughout Illinois institutions serving grades K-12. Each school is reimbursed a maximum of $5,000 by the County upon installation of the system.

“Cook County is grateful to the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation for their partnership on this important initiative,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This program enables our young people to better understand the science behind renewable energy and to see that a career in renewable energy might be in their future.”

Grantees commit to incorporating solar and renewable energy into their STEM curriculum, and to host “Solarbrations” that celebrate the PV system within their school community.

Schools who received Solar Schools Grant awards from Cook County include:

1. Cooper Middle School in Buffalo Grove
2. Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District in Burr Ridge
3. Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge
4. Octavio Paz Elementary in Chicago
5. Barack Obama School of Leadership & STEM in Chicago Heights
6. Ridge Lawn Elementary School in Chicago Ridge
7. Ridge Central Elementary School in Chicago Ridge
8. Elden D. Finley Junior High School in Chicago Ridge
9. Sherlock Elementary School in Cicero
10. Hillcrest High School Street in Country Club Hills
11. East Leyden High School in Franklin Park
12. Lincoln Hall Middle School in Lincolnwood
13. Proviso East High School in Maywood
14. Bremen High School Street in Midlothian
15. West Leyden High School in Northlake
16. Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest
17. Tinley Park High School in Tinley Park
18. Holmes Middle School in Wheeling
19. London Middle School in Wheeling
20. Central Elementary School in Wilmette
21. Harper Elementary School in Wilmette
22. McKenzie Elementary School in Wilmette
23. Romona Elementary School in Wilmette
24. Wilmette Junior High School in Wilmette

For more information about the County’s Solar Schools Grant program, visit: www.cookcountyil.gov/solarschools