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Comment 39 for Public Input on Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds Second Investment Plan (investplan2-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Anna
Last Name: Ferrera
Email Address: aferrera@m-w-h.com
Affiliation: School Energy Coalition
Subject: Cap and Trade Auction Trade Proceeds Investment Plan
Comment:
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.
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2015-11-13 09:28:53
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