Idaho prides itself on innovation and stewardship, and our public schools embrace these values through energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. Across the state, districts are leveraging federal and state tax incentives to make fiscally sound upgrades that improve student health, support student learning, and save taxpayer dollars.
The Boise School District has earned national recognition as a leader in energy efficiency. Recently, it was named one of the top 60 school districts in the U.S. for sustainability and indoor air quality as part of the Energy Class Program, a competitive program from the U.S. Department of Energy and New Buildings Institute to further sustainability and indoor air quality efforts. The district’s participation in the DOE’s 50001 Ready Program has further solidified its commitment to reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
In Boise, grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has supported momentum towards energy efficiency by providing the upfront capital to pilot adding electric school buses to the district’s fleet. These zero-emission buses will enhance air quality for students while contributing to the district’s broader sustainability goals.
Boise isn’t alone in taking advantage of energy efficiency incentives. The McCall-Donnelly School District received $3.95 million in grant funding for electric buses. This replaces diesel-powered vehicles with zero-emission models that provide quieter, healthier rides for students and save on operational costs.
Further north, the St. Maries School District received incentives to upgrade the HVAC systems at Heyburn Elementary, Upriver Elementary, St. Maries Middle School, St. Maries High School, and an Alternative Learning Building. These projects included energy-efficient solutions that improve ventilation in support of student health. St. Maries is integrating these upgrades into classrooms by offering Career and Technical Education programs for 7th and 8th graders so they can learn how heating and cooling systems work, the benefits of biomass fuels, and how this impacts their community.
The opportunities within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program are empowering Idaho districts to make these impactful changes, and they’re broadly supported across our communities. Grants, tax credits, and rebates make sustainable upgrades accessible, even for smaller, rural districts. At their best, federal incentives can and should drive local innovation.
The biggest opportunity in the Inflation Reduction Act for school districts and other tax-exempt entities are the non-competitive tax credits for installing ground-source heat pumps, solar panels, energy storage, electric vehicles, and electric vehicle charging equipment through a new provision called Elective Pay. Over the last few weeks, the first checks from these new clean energy tax credits landed in the mailboxes of school districts across the country. UndauntedK12 provides district leaders with tools and resources to help districts better understand the Inflation Reduction Act’s opportunity for schools.
From cost savings to preparing students for the future, sustainability and energy efficiency teach the next generation to care for our communities and the environment.
We hope to see expanded use of these federal and state incentives as local leadership learns about what is possible and join us in building a healthier future for all Idahoans.
