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REPORT
Department: Environment and Sustainability
Report Title: Solar Schools Annual Report
Report Period: FY2023
Summary: As required by Resolution Number 20-2567 establishing the Cook County K-12 Solar Schools Initiative that was approved by the Board of Commissioners on May 21, 2020, the following is the 2023 Annual Report for the Cook County Solar Schools Grant program. We are happy to report that the available funding has been allocated to schools and the program is nearing completion
Program Information
The Cook County Solar Schools Grant provides supplemental funding to grantees of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation's (ICECF) K-12 Solar Schools Program, a program that supports the installation of 1kW photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout Illinois institutions serving grades K-12. To receive supplemental funding through the Cook County Solar Schools program, applicants must serve the K-12 population in Cook County, Illinois; be a recognized public school by the IL State Board of Education (ISBE); and be a grantee of the ICECF's K-12 Solar Schools Program. If more applications are received than funding available, preference is given to Title-1 school-wide funded and Title-1 school-wide eligible schools, in which children from low-income families make up at least 40% of the enrollment. The Cook County Solar Schools program may award up to $4,999 per school including:
* The remaining costs of the 1kw PV system, not covered by ICECF, including supplies, installation and labor
* An award to the school for the purposes of setting up an operations and maintenance fund for the PV system to ensure its long-term operation for the school community.
* The costs of the Solarbration event and educational resources related to renewable energy, and/or signage for the installation.
Previous Grant Awardee Status
In 2021 and 2022, 23 schools were awarded the Cook County Solar Schools Grant and moved forward in the program. There have been dela...
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