New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced more than $100 million is now available to make clean energy upgrades in public schools across New York State through the Clean Green Schools Initiative, which provides funding to implement modern, energy-efficient solutions from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (P-12) educational buildings.
Additionally, more than $41 million has been awarded to five Priority Districts across the state from previous rounds of this funding opportunity. Today’s announcements will remove cost barriers to installing the latest clean energy and building technologies, reduce energy use and improve air quality in schools, helping to create healthier, safer learning environments for students in New York State.
“Here in New York, we are unlocking historic investments through the Sustainable Future Program and Environmental Bond Act that will ensure every community can benefit from a clean, resilient future,” Hochul said. “Together, this funding, combined with these awards, means more students in priority school districts across the state will benefit from modernized and healthier learning environments as we progress toward a cleaner future for the next generation.”
The Clean Green Schools Initiative, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), provides funding to projects that help schools reduce energy use and improve the energy efficiency of their buildings while minimizing exposure to extreme heat. Eligible project types include retrofits that reduce energy consumption, electrification readiness projects, and conversion of central heating and/or cooling plants to clean energy technologies, such as heat pumps.
“The Clean Green Schools Initiative is delivering real results for New York’s public schools by helping them upgrade to energy efficient systems that reduce energy costs, improve indoor air quality and cut emissions,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “Building on the awarded projects, this latest $100 million investment will accelerate project development and ensure New York State is directing resources to students in districts that need them the most.”
The Clean Green Schools Initiative is open to public school districts across New York State that are designated as Priority Districts, or if the public school buildings and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) buildings are located in a disadvantaged community, as defined by the New York Climate Justice Working Group. Incentive amounts start at $500,000 for qualifying projects and proposals are due on August 18, 2026 by 3 p.m.
This new round of Clean Green Schools Initiative is funded through the Governor’s $1 billion Sustainable Future Program, which is the largest climate investment in New York’s history, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
