WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (both D-VA) announced $15,300,000 in federal funding for Richmond Public Schools (RPS) to make energy efficiency upgrades at 22 Title I schools, bringing down energy costs while also improving air quality. RPS plans to prioritize small, women, and minority-businesses and apprenticeships in the project deployment, and will reserve some of the funding for continuing clean energy job certification and training. The funding is courtesy of the 2024 Renew America’s School Prize, made possible by the Senators’ bipartisan infrastructure law. 

“When I negotiated the infrastructure law, we prioritized programs that would address the most pressing needs of the moment while making long-term investments in our workforce and environment,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m thrilled to announce $15 million to invest in the health and wellbeing of Richmond’s students and teachers, cut costs for RPS, train folks for high-demand clean energy jobs, and promote the long-term preservation of our environment. Today’s award for RPS is a win-win-win for education, energy efficiency, and job creation.”

“Our students and educators deserve safe, healthy, and up-to-date learning environments in order to succeed,” said Sen. Kaine. “I’m thrilled that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped pass is bringing over $15 million in federal investments to Richmond Public Schools to improve air quality and reduce energy costs at 22 schools. All three of my children were RPS students and I’ve seen firsthand how hard the district works to deliver for students. I’m looking forward to continuing to work together with Virginia’s amazing public schools to secure the funding we need to help students thrive.”

This award follows reporting about the maintenance backlog at Richmond Public Schools, where 73 percent of school facilities have gone at least 25 years without a major renovation. School infrastructure has a direct impact on student health and learning outcomes. As part of this award, RPS will partner with Trane Technologies, Virginia Community Voice, Project Homes, FLIPP, Inc., Richmond Public Schools CTE, and Richmond Public Schools Finance to ensure that awards the award is distributed equitably and will also go towards training and certifying “green collar” jobs in energy efficiency. 

The funding was made possible by the Renew America’s School Prize (RASP), a first-of-its-kind program to invest in creating healthier learning environments and cutting costs for public schools by improving facilities and making energy efficiency upgrades. In 2023, the senators announced that Alexandria City Public Schools and Nottoway County Public Schools also received over $15 million for upgrades courtesy of RASP. 

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