SHEPHERDSVILLE, KENTUCKY (BNO NEWS) – The Kentucky Energy Efficiency Program for Schools (KEEPS) will receive a boost of more than $9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, Governor Steve Breshear announced on Monday.

“KEEPS is an excellent way for our school districts to gain energy cost savings while also protecting the environment,” said Gov. Breshear.

These funds will expand KEEPS and will also help to get all Kentucky school districts enrolled in such program. Currently eighty percent of Kentucky schools are participants of this program. The expansion was possible due to a partnership among the Department for Energy Development and Independence, The University of Louisville’s Kentucky Prevention Center and the Kentucky School Boards Association.

“The University of Louisville is proud to join with state government in sharing our energy saving expertise with school districts and businesses so they can save money while protecting our planet,” said University of Louisville President Dr. James Ramsey.

KEEPS uses a seven-step energy management that is based on Kentucky’s 7-Point Energy Strategy of Gov. Beshear. The strategy’s objectives are to develop clean, reliable, affordable energy sources in order to improve the energy security, reduce the carbon emissions and provide economic prosperity.