SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. - Governor Steve Beshear today announced a partnership between the Department for Energy Development and Independence, The University of Louisville’s Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center (KPPC) and the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) that will expand KEEPS - the Kentucky Energy Efficiency Program for Schools. Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will give KEEPS a boost of more than $9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy that will help all Kentucky school districts get enrolled in the energy efficiency program.

“Enrolling in the KEEPS program is an excellent way for our school districts to gain energy cost savings while also protecting the environment. These energy savings help schools save valuable funds and teach children the importance of energy conservation,” said Gov. Beshear.

In April 2008, Kentucky House Bill 2, Section 16, was signed into law requiring all boards of education (174 public Kentucky school districts) to enroll in KEEPS. In the second half of 2009, ARRA funding helped to enroll 48 new school districts in KEEPS, bringing the rate of Kentucky schools participating up to 80 percent.

"The University of Louisville is doing cutting edge research to find new "green" technologies,” said University of Louisville President Dr. James Ramsey. “We're also proud to join with state government in sharing our energy saving expertise with school districts and businesses so they can save money while protecting our planet."

Through KEEPS, KSBA will help school districts to hire Energy Managers that will use KPPC as a resource to understand how energy management can help achieve financial and environmental goals and objectives. Energy Managers also help school districts to establish energy goals, track progress toward achieving those goals, and assist with the development of a school energy team, consisting of students, teachers, administrators and district facility management employees. KEEPS’ seven-step energy management process is based on the ENERGY STAR program.

“Today’s announcement goes beyond helping schools become more energy efficient,” said First Lady Jane Beshear. “I believe this opportunity helps us create a new generation of school children who will embrace energy efficiency as a way of life and make a measureable difference not only for the Kentucky of tomorrow, but across the globe.”

KEEPS is designed to help achieve the goals of Governor Steve Beshear’s Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future: Kentucky’s 7-Point Energy Strategy, and will be part of the effort to meet 18 percent of Kentucky’s energy needs from efficiency improvements by 2025. For more information please visit www.energy.ky.gov.