Sunrise Elementary School, a Northshore District school located in Redmond, is one of seven facilities that has just been awarded a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) grant for the Renewable Energy Education Program, formerly called the Solar Schools Program.

The winning educational institutions include those that educate the public about renewable energy and the environment. PSE has offered these grants to school districts since 2004.

“Our environment and our economy both demand new ways of thinking about how to produce energy cleanly and efficiently,” said Cal Shirley, vice president of energy efficiency services for PSE. “Expanding the grant eligibility to select educational institutions will offer real-world, first-hand experience to students and citizens interested in how energy is produced and how vital it is to use energy wisely,” Shirley noted.

In addition to Sunrise Elementary, Griffin Elementary School in Olympia, Tahoma Senior High School in Covington, Vashon Island High School, 21 Acres in Woodinville, the La Conner Wastewater Treatment Plant and Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie have been selected to receive between $5,000 and $20,000 each in funding for a renewable energy demonstration system and educational materials.

In total, PSE is distributing approximately $100,000 to support these seven renewable energy education projects in its service area in Western Washington.

To receive a PSE grant, the renewable energy demonstration systems must require no fuel and minimal maintenance for 20 years or longer, while generating enough power to operate 10 notebook computers for eight hours a day. The grants must also support Web-based monitoring software that allows students and interested community members to track how much energy is being generated as the weather changes, as well as classroom materials.

Those qualifying for PSE renewable grants submitted plans earlier this year, detailing their educational goals, how their projects will bring renewable energy technologies to new areas of the Puget Sound region and what steps will be taken to increase community awareness of the potential for using renewable energy technologies.

Sunrise Elementary School was awarded funding for 1.5 kW portable household power systems charged by an 85 watt solar module, as well as educational materials and teacher training.

PSE expects to offer a new round of grants through a similar application process in early 2011.