September 22, 2006 – Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director Robert W. Swanson announced today that Allen Park Public Schools, Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District, Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District and Inland Lakes School District have received Energy Smart Schools energy education grants totaling $23,797 from the Michigan Energy Office

The energy education grants will be used to introduce energy efficiency and renewable energy curriculum into classrooms. Curriculum materials and teacher training will be provided by the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, a Rebuild America strategic partner.

All four districts will begin incorporating energy education into their curriculum this fall and are supplementing classroom lessons with extra-curricular energy activities such as performing energy audits of school buildings, holding energy carnivals and operating small biodiesel production units to demonstrate alternative fuel use in school buses. 

Funding for the grants was made available through the U.S. Department of Energy.  The grant is administered by the DLEG's Energy Office through the Rebuild Michigan Program (RM) www.michigan.gov/eorebuild

For additional information, please contact Deborah Lee, Allen Park Public Schools at (313) 827-2123; Dee Benjamin, Dickinson-Iron ISD at (906) 776-8137; Michelle Ribant, Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD at (906) 632-3373; Susan Whitener, Inland Lakes School District at (231) 238-6868; or Tim Shireman, Michigan Energy Office at (517) 241-6281.

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.