Solar Power in US Schools: Study and State Rankings

A new SEIA study not only ranks states by the number of solar schools it shows solar is making a difference. This study is the first nationwide assessment of how solar is helping to reduce utility bills which in turn is paying for teachers salaries and textbooks. The study also suggests that more than 70,000 additional schools could also benefit.


The study is titled Brighter Future: A Study on Solar in U.S. Schools.

Here are some of the Key Findings:

• An analysis performed for this report found that 450 individual school districts could each save more than $1,000,000 over 30 years by installing a solar PV system. 
• Of the 125,000 schools in the country, between 40,000 and 72,000 can “go solar” cost-effectively.
• There are 3,752 K-12 schools in the United States with solar installations, meaning nearly 2.7 million students attend schools with solar energy systems.
• The 3,727 PV systems at all U.S. schools with solar installations have a combined capacity of 490 megawatts (MW), and generate roughly 642,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity each year.
• The electricity generated in one year by all 3,727 PV systems represents a combined $77.8 million per year in utility bills ‒ an average of almost $21,000 per year per school. This combined energy value is roughly equivalent to 155,000 tablet computers or nearly 2,200 new teachers’ salaries per year.

Curious if your school has solar or might be a good candidate for solar? Click here to find your school on our interactive map.

Want your school to go solar? Click here to Email your administrator.

Click here to find out about Schools with solar energy systems by state.

Make sure to see the article titled, “Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources.” It contains links to over 200 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student’s eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.