Sen. Tina Smith Explores New Geothermal System at Winona School

Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith Highlights Impact of Clean Energy Tax Credits at Winona School

In a recent visit to Washington-Kosciusko Elementary in Winona, Minnesota, Sen. Tina Smith took a firsthand look at the positive impact of federal clean energy incentives. The school has made headlines with its new geothermal dehumidification system, a project made possible by a tax credit derived from the Inflation Reduction Act—an initiative that Smith played a significant role in crafting.

Details on the Visit

Sen. Smith’s visit to Washington-Kosciusko Elementary was a chance to see the outcomes of the Inflation Reduction Act in action. The legislation, which she helped shape, made it possible for non-profit entities such as school districts to access tax credits for clean energy projects.

Smith was quoted saying: “This is such an incredible asset in this community. I love seeing it and to see the innovation that this school district is making with this geothermal system to heat and cool these 90-year-old buildings. I think it’s really a model for what districts all across the state can be doing.”

Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act was instrumental in granting the Winona Area Public Schools district a hefty $5.5 million tax credit. This credit was used for the installation of the geothermal dehumidification system at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary.

According to Sen. Smith, the visit was a testament to the effectiveness of the legislation. “When we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, one of the things I really pushed was to allow not-for-profit entities like school districts, and rural electric co-ops, and municipal utilities to be able to take advantage of tax credits even if they’re tax exempt,” Smith said.

About the Geothermal System

By utilizing underground temperatures, the geothermal system at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary is able to efficiently heat and cool the 90-year-old building. This results in reduced energy costs and a lesser environmental impact.

Smith’s Tour of Rural Minnesota

The visit to the school was part of Sen. Smith’s broader tour of rural Minnesota communities. “There’s so much innovation happening in small towns and rural communities in Minnesota. I love to get out of the big city and see what is happening,” she said. “We were in Red Wing earlier today and then came to Winona before I head back to the Cities. There is just great innovation happening and this is a great example of it.”