HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center shared a new study at the State Capitol on Wednesday. It found that schools in Cumberland and Dauphin counties could power nearly 8,000 homes and save over $26 million by going solar.

“Our report found that using solar energy on schools right here in Dauphin County could produce enough energy to power over 4,637 homes, save local school districts and taxpayers over $15 million, and actually rates sixth for potential savings across all Pennsylvania counties,” says PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center advocate Stephanie Wein. “In nearby Cumberland County, solar energy on schools could power 3,191 homes and save over 11 million taxpayer dollars, all of this while reducing the sort of air pollution that leads to smog and increases asthma attacks amongst our children.”

Solar Project Developer with McClure Company, Mac Giles, says solar panels have a lifespan of around 40 years. Once they’re decommissioned, they can be recycled. Having solar panels saves schools money.

“It varies on the system size and how much the school is using,” Giles says. “Typically, we’ve experienced it would be typically ranged from like 3 to 5 million, depending on the size of the school.”

Steelton-Highspire School District recently received a $446,000 grant from the state’s Solar for Schools program to build an additional array for its elementary school. Assistant Superintendent Willie Slade says that money will help the district power up.

“The ultimate goal would be to be able to sell power back to the grid as another way to make revenue for the district,” Slade says.

There are tax credit deadlines for federal funding and the amount of state money going towards the program this year remains unclear with lawmakers still debating the budget.

“I would hope that we put more money in the pot than we did last time, so that way folks that didn’t get a grant or an award are in a strong position to get one this coming year,” says Rep. Dave Madsen (D) – Dauphin County.

“I’m not anti solar, but I do believe that we need to be wise in our investments and we need to ensure that any kind of energy production that we have is something that’s sustainable, reliable,” House Republican Leader Jesse Topper told abc27 back in July.

abc27 asked speakers at Wednesday’s press conference about how solar-powered schools could help offset the electricity that data centers will demand.

“It’s not that like the solar panels in our school districts and Steelton-Highspire is going to like make up for one data center,” Wein says. “It’s like we need to be looking on the ways that we can increase clean, renewable, homegrown, affordable energy now. This is an obvious solution when you look at those 2,000 football fields worth of school roofs in Pennsylvania, you can generate a ton of power.”

Click here for an interactive map that shows the solar potential schools hold in all Pennsylvania counties.