CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 9, 2025) – Today, students at Stone Creek Elementary School in Rossville, Georgia, celebrated the award of a $25,000 Learning Environment Grant from the School Uplift program. The grant, presented by TVA and EPB, recognizes Stone Creek’s dedication to making smart energy choices to improve learning environments and save money by reducing energy use.

“On behalf of all faculty and staff at Stone Creek Elementary School, I’m very proud of the persistence and creativity our students applied to developing a year-long program that has measurable results for our school’s energy use and costs,” said Principal Dr. Leigh Davis.

EPB Energy ProsSM worked with Stone Creek teachers to conduct a comprehensive energy assessment in partnership with TVA. The school also formed an “Energy Squad” of students and teachers to take daily actions to improve the facility’s energy efficiency. Among the activities were daily shut down checklists for all teachers, as well as more extensive procedures to prepare for fall, winter and spring breaks. Stone Creek excelled at parental engagement by inviting EPB to share information about residential incentives and free programs like EPB Home Energy CheckupsSM. Other activities included opportunities for students and parents to play Energy Jeopardy to be entered into drawings for prizes.

“TVA and local power company partners are committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve through School Uplift,” said Monika Beckner, vice president of TVA Energy Services and Programs. “By reducing energy costs, we’re making more funds available for education and creating a better learning environment for students and teachers which helps give every child the opportunity to succeed.”

This week, TVA announced it awarded $2.3 million to 98 schools that participated in similar efforts to reduce power bills and promote energy efficiency measures through School Uplift. The program helps participating schools save an average of 10% on energy bills through efforts to use energy wisely, like the ones put in place at Stone Creek Elementary Schools.

“I had the privilege of working with Stone Creek to help them achieve their School Uplift goals and measurably decrease the school’s power consumption,” said David Vanzant, EPB Energy Pro and School Uplift representative. “Students made learning about energy interesting and fun for their peers. They also took learning beyond the walls of the schools to share and encourage their families to save energy to help lower bills at home, too.”

Students plan to use award funds to purchase a new book vending machine and an initial order of books to fill the machine. Funds will also be used to resurface and paint the blacktop, pave nature trails at the school, install a digital interior welcome sign and replace broken blinds where needed.

TVA launched School Uplift to invest in students’ futures by offering energy efficiency training and funding to reduce energy costs and improve schools’ learning environments. To date, TVA has invested about $8.2 million to help 323 schools save on their energy bills.

Up to 120 new schools may participate in the 2025-2026 School Uplift program. Public and private schools in TVA’s seven-state service area are encouraged to learn more and apply at energyright.com/business-industry/school-uplift/.

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About EPB

EPB is a customer-focused technology company that delivers innovative power and telecommunications solutions to the Chattanooga area in pursuit of its mission to enhance the quality of life for the community it serves. In 2010, EPB completed a 100% fiber optic network accessible to all its customers as the basis for launching America’s first community-wide Gig speed internet. The company still operates the world’s fastest community-wide internet service today at speeds up to 25 Gig. EPB also utilizes Chattanooga’s fiber optic network as the communications backbone for the most advanced and highly automated power distribution system in the United States. In 2022, EPB continued its commitment to keeping Chattanooga on the cutting edge by establishing our nation’s first commercially available quantum network—EPB Quantum Network℠. This effort aligns local job creation efforts with the national priority to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technology.

Since switching the lights on for its first electric customer in 1939, EPB has grown to serve more than 400,000 people across a 600-square-mile service area with cutting-edge infrastructure that integrates power distribution and fiber optic connectivity. At the same time, EPB keeps customer benefit at the center of all its efforts, earning recognition from J.D. Power as the #1 Mid-Sized Utility in the South for the last nine consecutive years based on customer satisfaction ratings. Learn more at epb.com.

About TVA

The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation’s largest public power supplier, delivering energy to more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states. TVA has one of the most diverse energy systems—including nuclear, hydro, solar, gas, and advanced technologies. To prepare for the future, TVA is making significant investments in its power system toward new generation and transmission.

TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. TVA maintains some of the lowest energy costs and highest reliability in the nation. TVA’s retail rates are lower than 80 percent of the rest of the nation, while its industrial rates are lower than 95 percent of the top utilities. In addition, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.