We are thrilled to announce that Johnson Learning Center has been selected to receive a $210,000 Building Energy Upgrade grant through the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) School Uplift program! NES is proud to partner with TVA on this initiative, which honors schools for their exceptional commitment to reducing energy waste through the dedicated efforts of students, faculty and staff.
School Uplift is a year-long energy management training program designed to help school districts make smart energy choices that improve the classroom environment and save money. While participating schools typically save nearly 10% on their annual energy bills through simple behavior changes alone, this grant provides the funding needed for major facility upgrades at Johnson Learning Center, including new windows, LED lighting and an improved air conditioning unit. When these upgrades are combined with behavioral changes, this year’s School Uplift participants have an estimated total energy savings of 5.33 GWh.
In addition to the grand prize, six other MNPS schools were recognized for their innovation and commitment to the environment with $10,000 grants:
- Cumberland Elementary
- Hillsboro High
- J.E. Moss Elementary
- Oliver Middle
- Overton High
- Smith Springs Elementary
“School Uplift is another way we’ve partnered with TVA to invest in our community,” said Executive Vice President, Chief Operations & Innovation Officer, Brent Baker. “We are excited that Johnson Learning Center earned this grant, which will enable administrators to improve facilities and make the school more efficient, healthy and comfortable for teachers and students.”
As Ray Knotts, Senior Director of TVA’s Demand Management explains, every dollar invested in energy efficiency helps schools allocate resources back to what truly matters: providing a quality education for our children. Since 2021, TVA has invested $13 million in School Uplift grants and has already helped more than 440 schools across seven states tackle energy waste.
This significant investment was officially revealed during a live virtual event on May 8, 2026. We invited the community to join the online celebration to recognize the hard work and success of our local school leaders and students. TVA EnergyRight and NES will continue to recruit K-12 schools for the 2027-2028 school year. Interested schools can visit EnergyRight.com/school-uplift to express interest in participating.
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