5 North Alabama schools receive grants to upgrade energy, learning environment

(WHNT) – Five schools in North Alabama received grants to help upgrade energy and their learning environments, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced Thursday.

Barkley Bridge Elementary, Hartselle Junior High, Hazel Green High School, Hollywood Elementary and Scottsboro Junior High School were among 106 schools that received grant money.

The grants, which are part of the TVA’s School Uplift program that was launched in 2021, ranged from $10,000 to $400,000.

TVA says that the grants were awarded on the score each school achieved by “cutting their energy waste, engaging their school community, and a needs-based assessment that determined which school buildings could achieve the greatest energy savings.”

• Barkley Bridge Elementary – $10,000
• Hartselle Junior High – $10,000
• Hazel Green High School – $210,000
• Hollywood Elementary – $10,000
• Scottsboro Junior High School – $210,000

“TVA and our 153 local power company partners have worked to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and we are especially proud of the impact of our School Uplift program since children are our most important asset,” said Monika Beckner, vice president, TVA Energy Services and Programs. “Reducing energy costs makes more dollars available for educational purposes and improving the quality of the learning environment for both students and teachers helps give every child the opportunity to succeed.”

The program has helped save participating schools an average of 10% on their energy bills each year through behavioral changes alone, on top of energy savings from upgrades funded by grants.

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