By By Lydia Grimes
Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore will receive a grant amounting to $147,150 to upgrade its lighting system.
This is part of a statewide economic stimulus grant awarded by Gov. Bob Riley to save energy and reduce utility bills by upgrading equipment and making other improvements.
The upgrade will affect 70 schools in 14 school systems in the state.
The governor announced on Nov. 24, that more than $4 million in grants are being awarded to the schools to replace outdated heating, cooling and lighting systems with new equipment that is energy efficient.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants, which Riley awarded from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Susan McKenzie, principal of Rachel Patterson Elementary School, said she was very surprised and did not know about the grant until Nov. 30.
Billy Hines, Escambia County superintendent of education, said the county will contribute the manpower to do the lighting installation.