School districts, governments get state help with energy costs

Gov. Matt Blunt announced May 6 the approval of nearly $1.9 million in low-interest loans that will be used by the school districts in Fair Grove and Marionville to make changes that are designed to boost energy efficiency and cut utility costs. Four other school districts and four city and county governments in the state also were approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources through its Energy Loan Program.

“Energy-efficiency improvements accomplished through these loans improve classroom conditions for our students, save taxpayers’ money and help each school district and local government redirect the energy savings toward other priorities and needs,” Blunt said in the release.

According to the release, the Fair Grove School District will receive a $550,000 loan for lighting upgrades, roof insulation and more efficient windows, for an estimated savings of $49,000 in annual utility costs.

The Marionville School District will receive a $36,000 loan to install energy-efficient lighting for its football field.

Those lights are expected to save the Marionville district more than $3,000 a year.

Other entities approved for the program are the Clarkton School District in southeast Missouri; the Stewartsville School District and the Saline County Courthouse in northwest and north-central Missouri; and the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation department, the Mehlville School District, the Sullivan County Memorial Hospital, the city of Clayton and the Adair County School District in the St. Louis area and northeast Missouri.

All told, the 10 entities are expected to save a combined $166,000 on their annual energy costs, according to the release .