The Cherokee County School District has been awarded $273,307 in federal energy stimulus funds by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board’s South Carolina Energy Office.

The district will install energy efficient heating and air conditioning equipment at Blacksburg Middle School, Cherokee Technology Center, Blacksburg High School, Luther Vaughan Elementary and Mary Bramlett Elementary School. The district will also implement an energy education program. 

 “Cherokee County School District will be able to make significant energy efficiency upgrades with this grant,” said John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office. “Cherokee County taxpayers will save over $68,000 annually in utility costs.”

The state’s 85 school districts are sharing $20.3 million in grants and loans for energy efficiency.  The state’s public colleges and universities are receiving a total of $12.2 million, and state agencies are getting $7.4 million for energy efficiency improvements.