Kenneth Kerchenske and Belle Sherwood | Solar power brings costs down for schools
Over the summer, as school districts across Pennsylvania were entering the 2025-26 year, leaders at Cambria Heights School District were notified that electric costs were expected to increase 12% to 20% in the next 12 months.
Generally, school business officials anticipate an increase of only 3% to 5% in energy costs each year. A 20% increase would have a large, unanticipated impact on a school district’s budget.
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Kenneth J. Kerchenske is the superintendent at Cambria Heights School District. Belle Sherwood is the clean energy advocate at PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center.