Amador County - Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) on Wednesday announced that Argonaut High School is among 14 schools within the company’s service area selected to receive up to $10,000 each in Bright Ideas grants. The money will be used to help their districts reduce energy usage, save money and help students learn the importance of environmental stewardship. Argonaut High School in Jackson was awarded $2,500. As part of the larger PG&E Solar Schools program, the Bright Ideas Grants program promotes the understanding of renewable energy in public schools throughout Northern and Central California. In 2009, PG&E awarded $250,000 in grants during the spring and fall to credentialed teachers, administrators and facilities managers. The PG&E Solar Schools Program includes installation of photovoltaic systems in public schools, a solar-based curriculum training package, workshops for teachers and Bright Ideas grants. Since its inception in 2004, PG&E shareholders have contributed more than $8 million to the PG&E Solar Schools program. With more than 125 schools participating throughout PG&E’s service area, the program has trained more than 3,000 teachers, benefiting nearly 200,000 students. The National Energy Education Development Project manages curriculum training and administration of the grants, and the Foundation for Environmental Education coordinates installation of the donated photovoltaic systems. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, based in San Francisco, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.