Comment Log Display

Dear Air Resources Board:

On behalf of the School Energy Coalition (SEC), an organization
made up of K-14 schools and associate members focused on improving
energy and water efficiency in school facilities for California’s
students, I am writing to provide our comments on the Cap and Trade
Auction Trade Proceeds Investment Plan.

With over 10,000 school buildings in over 1,000 school districts
throughout the state we believe schools should be key partners in
assisting the state to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. 
According to the Collaborative on High Performing schools (CHPS),
one in five Californians spends their day in a K-12 school and
schools contribute roughly 5-8% of California’s greenhouse gas
emissions.
SEC believes that a new energy and water school grant program
should be considered along with technical assistance for schools
who wish to build upon the energy efficiency work they are doing
with the Proposition 39 program.

Baseline data, analysis, and benchmarking are being done now but
the allocations do not allow schools to do the deep retrofits that
are needed to make a difference statewide.  Schools are poised to
do so much more with regard to efficiency and renewables – and now
more than ever – Zero Net Energy schools seem attainable.

Energy projects not only directly lower greenhouse gas emissions
but also save taxpayer dollars that can be used on other school
priorities or be re-invested in upgrading buildings to new Green
code and Title 24 standards.

Water projects should also be a priority because we know that it
takes an extraordinary amount of energy to move water up and down
the state.  Public school districts are often in charge of many
acres of lawn in cities and towns across the state – and have been
identified as large water users by water districts.  

Projects that conserve or more efficiently use or re-use water will
also contribute greatly to lowered greenhouse gas emissions and
educating the users of tomorrow, our students.  Schools are already
struggling to meet the state’s emergency water mandates while
keeping up playfields and ensuring that they are safe for students
and other community members who may share these facilities.

In addition, funding for addressing long-term ongoing water use
through landscaping and infrastructure - such as purple pipe -
could go a long way toward allowing schools to take real, permanent
action and save millions of gallons of water annually.  We are also
able to easily identify those schools in disadvantaged communities
through our free and reduced price meal data.

Finally, we ask that a thorough review of existing energy, water
and transportation programs be made to ensure that school projects
have priority access or separately designated funding under the
plan. Schools already have state agency partnerships with the
Department of Education, the California Energy Commission, and now
the Water Board on programs such as Prop 39 and the Drought
Response Outreach Program for Schools (DROPS).  

Schools are a sure way to ensure that every community has public
projects that they can be proud of and teaches consumers of
tomorrow about conservation and efficiency to address climate
change.  We look forward to working with you to ensure that schools
are an active part of the plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions
throughout California.