Seattle Public Schools in Washington receives a $7,970,439 check!
SEATTLE, December 2024 — In December 2024, Seattle Public Schools in Washington celebrated the receipt of a $7,970,439 energy tax credit after completing the installation of ground-source heat pumps at three elementary schools. By incorporating these systems into James Baldwin, Kimball, and Viewlands Elementary schools, the district qualified for a federal cash reimbursement under the Investment Tax Credit (Section 48) and Elective Pay (Section 6417) provisions.
Seattle Public Schools is leading the way in leveraging energy tax credits and Elective Pay to modernize school infrastructure and reduce operational costs. As of September 2024, Seattle Public Schools has installed ground-source heat pumps in 15 existing school buildings, lowering the district’s energy use intensity by as much as 77%, and reducing costs district-wide.
The transition has significantly improved the district’s energy efficiency, reducing energy use intensity by up to 77% and, in turn, also reducing their operations and maintenance expenses. These savings can be reinvested into classrooms, teacher salaries, and student support.
The elementary school project also provided a boost to the local economy through district partnerships with three Washington-based construction firms: Lydig Construction, Absher Construction, and Cornerstone CGI. Throughout the construction process, the district upheld strong labor practices by employing apprentices and adhering to high-road labor standards.
