Governor Charlie Crist today announced the award of $10 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants to the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa Beach. The grant known at the SunSmart Schools and E-Shelters program is part of the $126 million Florida received for energy related initiatives under ARRA.
Now these are same stimulus funds (or AARA grants) that Crist initially supported early last year when he embraced President Obama, but by November 2009 said that he “didn’t endorse” and “didn’t even have a vote on the darn thing”. Whatever.
Ninety school would be selected to serve as emergency shelters and will receive funding under the SunSmart Schools and E-Shelters program. Schools will be assisted with their installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery back-up. The program will also include workshops for facility managers energy curriculum teachers.
Crist said that the program will help protect Florida’s environment for future generation. “Educating Floridians and utilizing energy efficient technologies will strengthen our economy by increasing Florida’s energy independence and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Crist said in a news release.
