Molloy College's Sustainability Institute set to receive $450k federal grant to work with L.I. schools

With the assistance of Sen. Charles Schumer, the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is slated to receive $450,000 in federal funds to work with school districts across Long Island to transition to cleaner and more efficient energy methods.

"This funding will allow Molloy College to create sustainable solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of Long Island schools — and, ideally, lower schools' energy bills," Schumer said of the grant money.

"This is an outstanding opportunity to reduce air pollution and decrease energy dependence while educating students and the community about sustainability. I will fight to see this funding through the full appropriations process," he added.

The funding, included in the FY2011 spending bill, was approved by the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee and was sent to he full Senate Appropriations Committee for approval. Following approval by the full committee and the Senate, the bill will move toward conference with the House and then to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The main effort of the Long Island Sustainable Schools Project is to encourage school boards to develop and adopt Clean Energy Action Plans while seeking to improve the cost effectiveness of energy retrofits.

The program will demonstrate methods and technologies to reduce air pollution, fight global climate change, increase energy independence and decrease long term operating costs associated with energy use. Ultimately, the program seeks to reduce the school portion of property taxes.

The Sustainability Institute at Molloy opened its doors in April 2009. Headquartered in the school’s Suffolk campus on Route 110, its mission is to integrate “green” concepts into the academic life of Molloy College and catalyze Long Island into a national leader in sustainable solutions.

According to Molloy College spokesman Ken Young, receiving federal funds would greatly assist the institute’s initiatives and the Long Island community at large.

     "Molloy’s goal with this funding would be helping schools reduce energy costs, saving them money and reducing the tax burden on consumers," said Young.

"The schools would become more ‘sustainable’ and our way of life on Long Island would become more sustainable as well," he added.

For additional information on the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, visit http://.si.molloy.edu.

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