BOARD OF EDUCATION GRANITE SCHOOL DISTRICT 100% CLEAN ENERGY RESOLUTION 

 

WHEREAS, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (IPCC Report) of 2018 and the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), climate scientists from around the world have all declared a climate crisis requiring significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels by 2030, and net zero carbon by 2040, in order to mitigate the most catastrophic consequences of global warming and climate change; 

 

WHEREAS, school districts—from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City to Los Angeles— are joining more than 150 cities across the country that have made commitments to power themselves with 100% clean electricity in order to save money and improve public health;

 

WHEREAS, Millcreek, Holladay, and Kearns — cities which the Granite School District directly serves— along with 19 other Utah communities have pledged to use renewable electricity by 2030;

 

WHEREAS, given the commitment of all cities being served by the Granite School District, the Granite School District has an opportunity and obligation to play a key role in helping to implement this commitment;

 

WHEREAS, the Granite School District is a teaching institution and should lead by example to model innovation, forward-thinking, and sustainable practices that benefit all students and communities in which the Granite School District operates;

 

WHEREAS, K-12 school districts spend $8 billion each year out of general operating budgets on energy, a cost burden second only to personnel. Transitioning to clean energy can reduce operating costs and save money and redirect funds to support educational equity and classroom learning;

 

WHEREAS, Granite School District is its own tax authority and is answerable to taxpayers. The District should allocate all funds as economically as possible/be as fiscally responsible as possible;

 

WHEREAS, shifting to 100% clean energy creates the potential for significant cost savings over time, minimizing the anticipated financial risk of fluctuating energy costs, and could significantly reduce air pollution and school absenteeism; 

 

WHEREAS, a 100% Clean Energy School or District is one in which the amount of clean energy procured or generated by schools equals or exceeds 100% of the annual energy consumed within that school or district over a calendar year;

 

WHEREAS, Granite School District serves more than 67,000 students, operates 90 schools, and encompasses 257 square miles. As a major energy consumer, the District is responsible to help in reducing carbon and other emissions that contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution;

 

WHEREAS, emissions from area sources including school buildings, residential homes and small businesses constitute 39% of Wasatch Front inversion pollution, while transportation contributes 48% of the Wasatch Front’s PM2.5 emissions;

 

WHEREAS, in 2019, Salt Lake County had the highest average daily PM2.5 pollution (with an average daily PM2.5 of 8.4) for Utah counties. According to The American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report, the Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem Area is ranked 11th for highest levels of ozone for US metropolitan areas; 

 

WHEREAS, EPA studies of exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels;

 

WHEREAS, indoor air pollution contributes to asthma, fatigue, and impaired concentration for students and staff;

 

WHEREAS, air pollution disproportionately impacts low-income youth and children of color;

 

WHEREAS, over 52,000 children in Utah are estimated to have asthma, according to a 2008 report by the CDC’s National Asthma Control Program; 

 

WHEREAS, asthma is one of the most common reasons that students miss school: In 2015, asthma caused 13.2 million missed instructional days; African-American children are twice as likely to have asthma as white children; and students in low-income areas are more likely to miss school because of asthma. This disparity extends to Latinx children as well: Nearly 1 in 10 suffer from asthma, and Latinx children are 40% more likely to die from asthma than non-Latinx whites.Teacher absences due to asthma and illness also impact academic performance;

 

WHEREAS, air pollution impacts are disproportionately felt among Utah communities, with less-affluent communities experiencing higher levels of air pollution;

 

WHEREAS, a team of researchers at the University of Utah analyzed school absence data, taking into account levels of PM2.5 and ozone. The data found that high air pollution levels are associated with school absences, and even a fairly moderate inversion can increase school absenteeism compared to a day with no pollution;

 

WHEREAS, absenteeism is linked to several adverse consequences, from widening the educational gap to economic losses for families and Utah;

 

WHEREAS, the Granite School District already suffers from equity imbalances in the areas of digital access;

WHEREAS, student achievement can be compromised by health effects from poor ventilation, uncomfortable temperatures, inadequate lighting, mold, and noise. Students who already struggle in school are at a particular disadvantage. Clean energy solutions — such as efficiency and heating and cooling upgrades — can simultaneously address these challenges, creating significantly better conditions for student health and learning;

WHEREAS, school buildings — which are a source of emergency shelter during disasters — can be equipped with solar and battery storage to create resilient and independent microgrids, ensuring displaced community members have access to heat and light when grid power fails;

 

WHEREAS; according to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, fault lines along the Wasatch Front create significant risk in areas near active Wasatch Front fault lines, which include communities directly served by the Granite School District: Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and Provo. Due to their rigidity, gas lines are prone to being dislodged from connections points and possibly resulting in a fire and/or explosion following seismic activity;

 

WHEREAS; equipping Schools in Granite School District with solar and battery storage could help avoid potential grid outages caused by a major earthquake; 

 

WHEREAS, the cost of renewable energy has been steadily declining and are now on par or more affordable than many conventional generation technologies. Finance pathways can help schools avoid the upfront costs of a clean energy transition;

 

WHEREAS, utility-scale renewable energy projects are now the least-cost

new electricity resource in Utah and the southwestern U.S., according to recent analysis by the

research firm, Bloomberg New Energy Finance;

 

WHEREAS, Granite School District is committed to providing a comfortable and safe learning environment and maximizing student learning potential. Transitioning to 100% clean energy can help advance these goals by:

 

1. saving money that can be invested into under-resourced schools, and redirected to academic and enrichment programs or facility upgrades

2. helping to address air pollution, which disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color

3. providing meaningful opportunities for project-based learning across STEM disciplines and beyond

 

WHEREAS, clean energy includes energy derived from solar, wind, geothermal, and wave technology sources. “Clean energy” specifically excludes energy derived from fossil fuels, nuclear, incineration of municipal and medical waste, and large-scale future hydroelectric development. Low-impact, small hydropower, and some forms of small-scale biomass may be considered clean energy after being evaluated for public health, sustainability, and environmental justice implications;

 

WHEREAS, Granite School District has the opportunity to support programs and strategies to increase school resilience, and energy efficient living laboratories to teach children to understand STEM concepts through clean energy applications;

 

WHEREAS; Transportation makes up the largest share of Wasatch Front air pollution, and electric school buses, with lower fuel and maintenance costs, pay back their investment over time, and may be eligible for incentives;

 

WHEREAS, the Granite School District has made efforts to drive down energy cost and carbon emissions through the replacement of inefficient light bulbs with LEDs and other energy efficiency measures, and increasing energy efficiency for buildings is an essential strategy to reduce carbon emissions and achieve 100% clean energy;

 

RESOLUTION 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Granite School District recognizes the deliberate progress already made by district staff to reduce the district’s energy consumption and lessen its carbon footprint through energy-smart programs, and environmentally-responsible and energy and resource-efficient practices.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that as the Board seeks to expand upon those effects and to create healthier, more environmentally sustainable schools, the Board hereby establishes the following goals: 

 

1. to use 100 percent clean, renewable energy in its electricity sector by 2030; and

2. in all energy sectors--including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), cooking, and transportation--by 2040.

 

Resolved further, that the Board directs the Facilities Services Division to assemble and oversee a task force no later than January 1, 2022, which will develop an implementation plan to meet these goals as well as reducing energy consumption, reducing the District’s current level of waste production, and other sustainability initiatives, and that the task force shall include District personnel, students, parents, labor partners, energy providers, renewable energy experts, and clean energy advocates.

 

Resolved further, that the task force report to the Board with updates on the development of the implementation plan once every four months until the completed implementation plan is presented to the Board for adoption no later than January 1, 2023; and, be it finally Resolved, that the Board calls on city, state, and federal officials and agencies to work alongside the District in taking swift, effective action on climate change to protect current and future students, their families, and the communities in which they live.

 

Resolved further, that the implementation plan shall also include measures to enhance equity, and will prioritize infrastructure investments and enhance learning opportunities in schools located in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

Resolved further, that the plan shall consider ways to make connections between the clean energy commitment of the district and classroom learning about green technologies and clean energy and climate solutions. 

 

Introduced on [DATE] by:

Adopted and approved by the Granite Board of Education of the at a regular meeting held on [DATE]