Its all about the money (and the fun you can have in the classroom)!

Have a great idea?  Do your students want to do more energy education outreach?  Here are some great grant opportunities!**

Most of our teachers, students, and partners know NEED for our curriculum, teacher training, and student leadership opportunities.  Those are definitely the major areas of our activities and where most of our time, resources, and energy go.  But did you know that we work with our partners to provide signature programs – special programming just for a specific group of teachers, a specific region or state, and for specific sponsors who are interested in making grants or other resources available to schools?

As the 2012-2013 school year is underway, all of us want our teachers to have the best access possible to these resources.  We have several websites set up for online grant applications (be sure to read the eligibility requirements before applying).  These grants range from $500 to $10,000 for schools to plan and implement student focused energy education programming.

For Hawaii schools: 

Hawaii Energy provides (via NEED) $250 – $2,500 grants for energy efficiency and conservation projects in schools.

To apply, visit:  http://hawaiienergy.need.org/grants

For California public schools in the Pacific Gas & Electric Company service area (northern and central California):

PG&E provides Bright Ideas Grants to public schools in the PG&E service area.  These grants are designed to support energy and environmental education programs for students.  $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 grants are available!

To apply, visit:   https://pge.need.org/node/2

For Florida schools in the FPL service area:

As part of their commitment to STEM education, the FPL/NextEra Energy Foundation provides grants totaling $50,000 for energy related projects.   All public, private and charter school teachers in FPL’s service territory are eligible to apply for grants to create classroom projects focused on any form of energy education.   Applications will be accepted beginning August 15, 2012 through November 15, 2012. Grant awards will be announced in early December 2012, with grants distributed by the end of January 2012.

To apply, visit:  http://www.fpl.com/community/learning/solarstations.shtml

For Greater Philadelphia schools:

The PECO program is “project-based,” combining a five-week classroom module with hands-on kits and curriculum, with a school student energy audit, a PECO sponsored field trip (optional), and a cash grant to support the school’s implementation of an energy and environment focused community project. The program is designed to be implemented in grades 6-8. The program materials are sponsored for up to 80 students to participate at each school.

The PECO Energizing Education Program includes:

1. Two- Day Teacher Training – November 16-17, 2012 at The Franklin Institute (substitutes and stipends paid)

2. Curriculum and hands-on kits to teach about:

• energy transformations
• solar energy
• wind generation
• hydropower
• energy efficiency

3. A Educational Energy Audit that engages students in the audit of the school building

4. A cash grant of up to $1,500 to support the school’s selection of and implementation of an energy-focused community outreach project.

5. PECO sponsored field trip (optional)

To apply, visit:  https://www.need.org/peco

**Before applying, be sure you meet eligibility requirements.