VALLEY VIEW – Senator David G. Argall (R-29) and Representative Mike Tobash (R-125) announced two grant awards from the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to the Tri-Valley School District.
The grants, which are through the CFA’s Alternative and Clean Energy Program, will provide financial assistance to develop and construct alternative and clean energy projects at two elementary schools in the district in order to reduce the school district’s energy costs.
According to Mark Snyder, Tri-Valley School District’s Superintendent, the upgrades are needed at the elementary schools.
“These funds will enable us to achieve high performance buildings while providing our students with a 21st Century educational environment,” Snyder said. “Though the Hegins-Hubley and Mahantongo Valley Elementary Schools have each served us well for over 50 years, their electro-mechanical systems have far surpassed their life expectancy and are failing. These grants will enable us to perform the necessary renovations to these two facilities while significantly defraying the cost to our taxpayers.”
Local officials applauded the grant award saying it will help the district make important renovations.
“These upgrades will result in real savings for local taxpayers,” Argall said. “I applaud the team effort that went into securing these grants and the vision of the school officials in proposing these cost-savings.”
“My office had been in contact with Mark Snyder, Tri-Valley School District superintendent, prior to the committee hearing,” said Rep. Mike Tobash (R-125). “I understand how important the funding is for the improvement and upgrade to the heating systems that haven’t been replaced in more than 30 years. I was happy to play a role in making sure that the school district got this important financial assistance during difficult budget times.”
Specifically, Hegins-Hubley Elementary School and Mahantongo Valley Elementary School are awarded $565,000 and $320,000, respectively, to be put towards building renovations.
At Hegins-Hubley Elementary, the grant, which is matched by local funds, will be put towards a new ground-source geothermal HVAC system, installation of energy-efficient lighting and building thermal envelop upgrades. The district anticipates saving 370,583 kWh annually. The district also expects to save over 218,000 gallons of water, or 40 percent, annually with the installation of new low-flow water fixtures.
Using similar renovations at Mahantongo Valley Elementary, the school will save over 101,500 gallons of water, or 68 percent, each year. The project at the school will eliminate fuel oil as an energy source, reducing energy consumption by 230,776 kWh annually.
When the renovations are completed, both schools will achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.