The Giving Grid is a Washington program that installs solar panels at rural school districts at no upfront cost. State tax credits pay for the systems. In return, each district agrees to spend its bill savings on programs that benefit low-income students and families for 10 years. Washington State University (WSU) says about 20 schools had signed up by March 2026. Freeman School District, south of Spokane, is one of them.
How the program works
Zero Emissions Northwest and Partners for Rural Washington lead the program. The WSU Energy Program, part of WSU Extension, administers it. WSU says participating schools pay nothing for installation. State tax credits fund the work, and utilities receive the credit and reimburse the partners. WSU does not say who owns the systems or who covers ongoing costs.
Districts choose how to spend the savings, as long as the money directly benefits low-income community members. Staci Nelson, director of grant services at Zero Emissions Northwest, told KXLY: “We set it up so each individual school district gets to choose what those priority needs are.”
How many districts? It depends on who you ask
The sources don’t agree on the count, so here they are side by side.
| Source | Districts reported |
|---|---|
| WSU Insider (Mar 2026): about 20 schools signed up |
About 20 |
| WSU Extension article: district projects planned for 2026 |
22 |
| KXLY (Sep 2026): Sprague and Colville installed, plus 13 other districts planned |
15 (2 installed, 13 planned) |
Bars are scaled to the largest figure, 22.
The districts so far
Harrington School District was the first to finish a system. It has 105 students, and it held a ribbon-cutting in early October 2025. WSU reports the district is weighing weekend food programs, technology upgrades and field trips for its savings. WSU CAHNRS News (Nov 2025) puts the expected savings there at about $15,000 a year, close to $1 million over 30 years.
Freeman School District installed a 100-kilowatt system at its transportation building. KXLY reports the district expects to save about $15,000 a year for 10 years. Superintendent Lisa Phelan said the money could open robotics, chess and science clubs to every student, because some of those programs now charge fees that limit who can join. Across the program, WSU Insider projects nearly $20 million in bill savings for participating schools over the systems’ expected 30-year life.
Why It Matters to You
If you’re in a rural Washington school district, this is a way to get solar without paying up front, with the savings aimed at low-income students and families. It’s under way now at districts like Harrington and Freeman, and about 20 schools had signed up by March 2026. The benefit for families comes only if districts follow through on spending the savings, and the sources describe plans, not completed spending.
What the figures don’t settle
- All savings are projections. The $20 million figure covers about 30 years and many schools, so it averages to a small amount per school each year.
- Only the spending rule runs for 10 years. After that, the sources do not say how savings are used.
- The sources describe the districts’ plans. They do not report completed spending on specific programs.
- The district counts above disagree, and the sources do not reconcile them.
Quick answers
Is the solar really free for schools? Schools pay nothing upfront. State tax credits cover installation, according to WSU. Ownership and long-term costs are not described in the sources.
Which districts qualify? The program focuses on rural districts. Published sources say “qualifying” districts but do not list criteria. Contact Zero Emissions Northwest or WSU’s Energy Program.
Could schools add batteries later? WSU says future upgrades such as battery storage could let schools serve as emergency shelters. It is a possibility, not a funded plan. Roanoke, Virginia is building such a system, as we report in our Roanoke story.
Sources
- WSU Insider: Solar schools shine on Washington students (Mar 25, 2026)
- WSU CAHNRS News: WSU Extension helping school districts tap into solar energy savings (Nov 12, 2025)
- KXLY: Washington schools go solar for savings and student programs (Sep 16, 2026)
- Odessa Record: School celebrates solar milestone (Oct 23, 2025)