Philadelphia legislators celebrate Solar for Schools grant recipients at Community College of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus June 6, 2025 | 10:03 AM
PHILADELPHIA, June 6 – A celebration and check ceremony Thursday hosted by the Philadelphia House and Senate delegations honored the Philadelphia schools and community colleges that received Solar for Schools grants.
Solar for Schools, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler and signed into law in 2024, was designed as a creative way to address the school funding crisis, rising utility costs, and climate change at once. In its pilot year, Solar for Schools has awarded 74 schools a total of nearly $22.5 million, including five K-12 schools in Philadelphia and two campuses of the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP).
"The Solar for Schools journey has taken me all across Pennsylvania, and I am so excited that these state dollars are coming home to fund solar installations at Philly schools," Fiedler said. "In Philadelphia, we are all too familiar with the school funding crisis. Now, thanks to the hard work of the school district, CCP, and our Solar for Schools coalition, these projects will cut much-needed costs for our schools and allow them to put that money where it counts: in the classroom.”
“Solar for Schools meets the current moment,” said Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Phila, whose Senatorial district includes the CCP Main Campus. “Thanks to their new grant, CCP will save a tremendous amount of money on energy bills and construction costs – allowing it to instead divert those funds back to the students and the staff and faculty who make this institution run. That the installation of the solar panels will be conducted by union labor using public funds only further underscores the intentional design to uplift the communities it serves.”
“Solar for Schools is a great example of what happens when we work together, inside the Capitol and outside of it,” said Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila, whose legislative district includes the main campus of CCP. “When coalitions of people come together, who don’t always agree but who understood this was something that made sense, this is one of those moments where public policy can be a win-win-win.”
"Environmental sustainability is a key component of our mission at Community College of Philadelphia,” said Dr. Alycia Marshall, president of CCP. “The Solar for Schools initiative will help us provide world-class facilities that foster environmental stewardship among our community. We are grateful for the leadership of Sen. Nikil Saval, Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, Rep. Morgan Cephas, and so many others for their dedication to forward-thinking policies that will sustain our schools."
The Community College of Philadelphia’s Main Campus and Northeast Regional Center were awarded a total of $506,018. Four School District of Philadelphia Schools – WB Saul High School, Northeast Community Propel Academy, Andrew Hamilton Elementary School, and Murrell Dobbins CTE High School – received a total of $1,273,134. Senator Street and Rep. Fiedler honored Dobbins in a check ceremony Thursday morning. Universal Audenreid Charter High School was also awarded $500,000.
Oz Hill, deputy superintendent of operations of the School District of Philadelphia, was in attendance to celebrate the four SDP schools who received grants. Hill said that Solar for Schools will help the district achieve their commitment to becoming the fastest-improving large urban school district in the country.
It is estimated that solar installations can save school districts millions of dollars over the life of one project. For the upcoming second year of the program, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed another $25 million appropriation for Solar for Schools in his February budget address. With the overwhelming showing of interest in its pilot year, Solar for Schools advocates are hopeful this appropriation is approved this budget season.
“As Appropriations chairman, it’s my job to ensure the state budget reflects the needs of the people of our commonwealth,” said Majority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee state Rep. Jordan A. Harris, D-Phila. “For too long, communities like ours have been left behind in clean energy investments. This program is about making sure every neighborhood benefits from a cleaner, greener and healthier city.”
“As energy costs and demand continue to rise, innovative solutions like Solar for Schools are essential to keeping the lights on and the power flowing in Pennsylvania while providing economic relief for schools,” said Philadelphia House Delegation Chairwoman Morgan Cephas, D-Phila. “I’m thrilled that CCP has been awarded this state grant to help improve their operating costs so they can continue to provide a quality option for higher education in Philadelphia. Our delegation will advocate for the inclusion of additional funding for Solar for Schools in the 2025-26 state budget.”