TVA Invests $3.3 Million to Improve Safety and Reduce Energy Bills at 121 Schools Across the Southeast

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Friday that 121 schools across the Tennessee Valley region will reduce their power bills and have healthier air thanks to over $3.3 million in funding for energy and classroom upgrades. This funding is part of TVA’s nationally recognized School Uplift program – which has invested about $13 million to help over 440 schools across seven states reduce their energy bills since 2021. The program has saved participating schools an average of 10% on their energy bills annually through behavioral changes alone, and this year’s participants will save an estimated 5.5 GWh of energy—enough electricity to power 18,000 homes for a month.

“TVA and local power company partners are committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve through School Uplift,” said Ray Knotts, TVA senior director of demand management. “By reducing energy costs, we’re making more funds available for education and creating a better learning environment for students and teachers that helps give every child the opportunity to succeed.” 

Funding ranged from $10,000 to $210,000 and was awarded based on the score each school achieved by cutting their energy waste and engaging their school community, and a needs-based assessment that determined which facilities could achieve the greatest energy savings. 

 In 2021, TVA launched the School Uplift program to invest in students’ futures by offering energy efficiency training and funding to reduce energy costs and improve a school’s learning environment. 

TVA is looking to enroll schools in the 2026-2027 School Uplift program. Public and private schools in TVA's seven-state service area are encouraged to apply. Learn more about TVA’s School Uplift program here.  

$210,000 Winner Quotes

“We are grateful to be selected as recipients of the $200,000 TVA School Uplift Grant and for the opportunity to invest in improvements that directly benefit our students and school community at Normal Park Museum Magnet – Lower School Campus. By enhancing lighting, heating, and overall efficiency in our historic building, we are creating more comfortable, sustainable spaces where students can focus, learn, and thrive. These upgrades not only reduce energy consumption and long-term costs, but also ensure our facilities better serve future generations of learners.” Dr. Jamelie Johns, Normal Park Museum Magnet School principal

"The TVA School Uplift Program has had a tremendously positive impact on our school. This program has helped us create student-led opportunities such as our Energy Team. These experiences give students the chance to be accountable and serve as leaders in managing our school's energy and resource usage, while also helping them understand the importance of being contributing members of our community. This recognition reflects our passion for inspiring, supporting, and uplifting every student we serve, as well as our commitment to educating students to be responsible stewards of both our community and the planet.” - Grant Warren, Principal, Lewisburg School

“Receiving this grant represents a significant milestone for Community Montessori School. One of only two public, district Montessori schools in Tennessee, the school is housed in a facility in Jackson, Tennessee, that was constructed in 1957. While recent years have brought important improvements to the campus, this grant will make it possible to implement more substantial facility enhancements with lasting impact.

Winning this amazing grant has enabled us to implement meaningful energy-efficiency improvements that will have a lasting impact on our facilities, our operating costs, and our environmental responsibility. Our entire staff and student body worked together to complete the grant with TVA and the upgrades will enhance the comfort and safety of our learning spaces AND allow us to redirect valuable resources back into academic programs and student support.

We are so grateful for this investment in our school and proud to model responsible stewardship for our students and community. The impact of this investment extends beyond our facilities—it reinforces our commitment to responsible stewardship, fiscal accountability, and creating conditions where students can thrive.” - Melinda Harris, Principal, Community Montessori

"It has been a fantastic year participating in the TVA EnergyRight School Uplift program. From our Pre-Kindergarten through our third graders, all of the students and faculty have been excited to work towards saving energy. We all made significant changes in our behaviors, remembering to turn off lights and electronics both at school and at home, and the students have a new appreciation for how hard our utilities work to keep power flowing to our schools. The Learning Environment Grant provided by the program will bring new play spaces and equipment to our students. The School Uplift program has made an impact on SPARK Academy at Cowart Elementary School that will last far beyond this school year!” - Jennifer Kennedy, energy champion at Spark Academy at Cowart Elementary School

2026 Award Winners