BURLINGTON, Vt., June 9 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the Vermont Department of Public Service today announced $1 million in federal funding will soon come to Vermont to establish sustainable energy projects at elementary, middle, and high schools across the state – as well as municipal buildings such as public libraries and town halls. The funds were secured by Sanders through the Congressionally Directed Spending process through the U.S. Department of Energy, and will be administered by the Vermont Public Service Department.

“To my mind, the future of our planet and the future of our young people go hand in hand,” said Sanders. “As we take on the existential threat of climate change for future generations, we must make sure we are also fighting for the students and young people growing up today, right now. These solar and sustainable energy projects in Vermont schools and public buildings are a critically important step toward building clean, affordable, and renewable energy systems in our communities. Projects like these are exactly what the Congressionally Directed Spending process is all about – bringing federal dollars into our state in a way that directly meets the needs of our local communities in innovative and sustainable ways.”

June Tierney, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service, said, “We are eager to work with Senator Sanders and the U.S. Department of Energy in bringing sustainable energy solutions to our towns and public schools, especially those that are struggling economically to afford clean energy solutions for their buildings.”

The funding will deliver solar panels and other sustainable energy projects to at least ten Vermont elementary, middle, and high schools, with an emphasis on schools with a high percentage of low income students. The solar arrays will not only generate electricity and reduce the schools’ carbon footprint, but also help to lower their costs. Schools will also be able to use these clean energy projects for hands-on learning about the importance of sustainable energy. The funding will also be used to develop and build sustainable energy projects at municipal buildings, including town halls and public libraries.

Vermont has already seen success in bringing solar energy to schools. In 2010, Crossett Brook Middle School was one of ten schools awarded $50,000 in federal funding secured by Sanders to install solar. Following this initial investment, Crossett Brook has gone on to install an additional 157 kilowatts of ground-mounted solar. Altogether, these solar projects generate the equivalent of roughly one-third of the school’s electrical needs.