Schools

Molloy's Sustainability Institute Will Get $450K Grant

Federal funding will help initiate clean energy actions plan for LI schools.

The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College in Rockville Centre will receive a $450,000 federal grant that will be used to help school districts on Long Island move to more environmentally-friendly and energy efficient methods. The grant was secured by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

"This funding will allow Molloy College to create sustainable solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of Long Island schools – and ideally lower schools' energy bills," Schumer said. "This is an outstanding opportunity to reduce air pollution and decrease energy dependence while educating students and the community about sustainability. I will fight to see this funding through the full appropriations process."

Included in the FY11 Appropriations Bill, the funding was recently approved by the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, with the intention of establishing clean energy practices  for school districts across Long Island. Schumer worked closely with members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this year's spending bill.

Find out what's happening in Rockville Centrewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The main efforts of the Long Island Sustainable Schools Project will be to encourage and assist school boards in developing  "Clean Energy Action Plans" while improving cost effectiveness of energy retrofits.

The program will also describe methods and technologies to reduce air pollution, fight global climate change, increase energy independence and reduce long term operating costs associated with energy use. Ultimately, the program seeks to reduce the school portion of property taxes.

Find out what's happening in Rockville Centrewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ed Thompson, vice president for advancement at Molloy, said the college is grateful for Schumer's help and that the senator knew the institute would be a good repository for the federal funding. "The biggest issue now is school taxes, and the easiest way to reduce them is to cut costs where you can," Thompson said. "Schools are huge users of energy and we can help them be more energy efficient."

Following approval by the Full Committee and the Senate, the bill will move towards conference with the House and then to the President for his signature.

 

 


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