(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $20,000,000.00 for 2022-2023 only for the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving funding under section 11y for the purposes of including ASHRAE Level II Energy Efficiency Audits or similar audits to the statewide school facilities study under section 11y. These funds may also be utilized for solar feasibility studies or data collection for solar feasibility.

    (2) The recipient of funding under this section must use the funds in coordination with engineers from architectural, engineering, or construction companies based in this state that are familiar with school construction and energy efficiency audits to perform a systematic assessment for school buildings in this state in which pupils in grades K to 12 are educated and that are operated by a district. Where possible, the inclusion of solar feasibility studies or data collection for solar feasibility may be performed as well.

    (3) The energy efficiency audit may include, but is not limited to, the following building improvements:

    (a) The following energy efficiency measures:

    (i) HVAC upgrades, including geothermal heat pumps.

    (ii) Lighting upgrades, including LED lights and occupancy sensors.

    (iii) Building envelope and weatherization.

    (iv) Appliances and equipment.

    (v) Building management systems.

    (b) Solar power systems on or nearby school buildings, school parking lots, and property.

    (4) All energy efficiency audits and solar feasibility studies or data collection for solar feasibility performed using these funds must be shared with the appropriate school district in the form of individual building reports.

    (5) As part of the assessment described in this section, the engineers must report to the recipient of funding under this section the outcomes of the energy efficiency audits and, where applicable, solar feasibility studies or data collection for solar feasibility.

    (6) The recipient of funding under this section must provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department summarizing the information it receives under this section.

    (7) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department must make payments under this section by August 1, 2023.