Capital Projects Secures Grant for ADA Handrail Project at Sparks Stadium, Pursues Massive Solar Initiative and Energy Audits for Local Schools

The Capital Projects team continues to work towards securing state and federal funds to bolster educational resources and infrastructure within the Puyallup School District. By applying for grants, the team seeks to leverage external financial support to enhance the learning environment for PSD students and educators.

We are excited to share the following funding updates.

Awarded:

• Form Package 279 ADA Grant, OPSI
  This grant will provide us $86,500 in funds for our ADA Handrail project at Sparks Stadium for the Grandstand aisle ways.  The grant was initially denied in December 2023 but then approved after additional funds were available to OSPI (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction). Work will begin this summer and will help to improve accessibility for all students, families, staff, and community members. We are grateful for the funding and excited to implement a solution that helps ensure everyone has equal access to the facility.

Applied:

• Applied 2024: Woodland Elementary School Solar Grant – Community Decarbonization Grant   

  The total grant request is $1.64 million, with Puyallup School District (PSD) Capital Projects matching $86,346 at a 5 percent rate. The proposed project, a 221.4 kW array, is not just about the Puyallup School District; it would also benefit our community. The system, installed on the roof, is designed to maximize the area for best solar photovoltaic (PV) production*, which aligns with Tacoma Power's net metering requirements. This array will generate approximately 27% of the school's annual electrical usage, ensuring we do not create more power than we consume. The primary benefit to the district is the ability to drastically reduce energy consumption beyond what we could afford to do with our existing resources. But the benefits extend beyond our walls. The array would reduce the current electrical demand by 263,100kwh annually, freeing up that power to other customers and allowing for more grid resiliency in an electrically overburdened neighborhood. Electrical generation would save the school approximately $540,000 in energy and demand charges over the array's lifetime. PSD will reinvest the savings achieved from energy efficiency into the district's educational mission. Lastly, the solar PV system will aid in decreasing the Energy Use Intensity (EUI)** of this building to align with state requirements and energy efficiency goals.

• Applied 2024: Rogers High School Clean Buildings Energy Audit
  The Clean Building Energy Audit grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce would provide PSD funding for an Energy Audit at Rogers High School as required by the Clean Buildings Performance Standards. This would include a review of 209,216  square feet of space. The audit, which would be performed by McKinstry, includes:
  • Planning and initial discovery.
  • Energy Efficiency measures initial development.
  • Life cycle cost analysis.
  • Final report.

The total grant request is $95,400.

• Applied 2024: Glacier View Junior High School Clean Building Energy Audit
  The Clean Building Energy Audit grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce would provide PSD funding for an Energy Audit at GVJH as required by the Clean Buildings Performance Standards. This would include a review of 105,884  square feet of space. The audit performed by McKinstry includes:
  • Planning and initial discovery.
  • Energy Efficiency measures initial development.
  • Life cycle cost analysis.
  • Final report.

The total grant request is $53,300.

•  Applied 2024: Aylen Junior High School Clean Building Energy Audit
  The Clean Building Energy Audit grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce would provide PSD funding for an Energy Audit at AJH as required by the Clean Buildings Performance Standards. This would include a review of 115,059  square feet of space. The audit performed by McKinstry includes
  • Planning and initial discovery.
  • Energy Efficiency measures initial development.
  • Life cycle cost analysis.
  • Final report.

The total grant request is $ 56,100.

• Applied 2023: US Energy Renew America Schools Grant 
  The Renew America's Schools grant, a federal initiative, focuses on funding infrastructure upgrades at K -12 public school facilities to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The grant application process is ongoing.

For more information on Capital Project grant applications, visit http://puyallupsd.org/capitalgrants.

To learn more about the work of the Capital Projects team, visit our website at Http://www.puyallupsd.org/capital. You can subscribe by email to receive news updates by clicking the orange bell icon under the heading “Foundations for Our Future News” or following us on social media @PSDFoundationsForOurFuture on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

*Solar PV production refers to generating electricity using photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar PV systems consist of solar panels of semiconductor materials, usually silicon, that absorb photons from sunlight and generate an electric current through the photovoltaic effect. This electricity can then power homes, businesses, and other applications. Solar PV production is a sustainable and renewable energy source, as sunlight is abundant and inexhaustible.

**EUI stands for "Energy Use Intensity" and is a measure used to assess the energy efficiency of a building. It represents the total energy consumption of a building relative to its size or floor area. EUI is typically expressed in energy use per square foot or square meter of floor area per year and is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or British thermal units (BTUs) per square foot or square meter per year.