Peninsula Clean Energy Partnering with SMC Schools to Reduce Harmful Pollution
$400K committed this school year for climate education programs
REDWOOD
CITY, CA – September 17, 2024 – Peninsula Clean Energy is partnering
with San Mateo County education leaders and allocating more than
$400,000 in the 2024-25 school year for educational programs and other
efforts to reduce local heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions.
School
district leaders will receive support for decarbonizing their
facilities, improving air quality for students and staff and fostering
youth leadership as part of a partnership with the San Mateo County
Office of Education, County of San Mateo Sustainability Department, the
Citizens Environmental Council of Burlingame and the San Mateo County
Community College District.
“Our
schools are important partners to educate the next generation of
climate leaders, as well as making concrete steps in the short term to
improve quality of life in our communities,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Shawn Marshall said.
“We
are laying the groundwork for the next generation of climate champions
by offering training and opportunities focused on the promise of a
clean energy economy,” San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine said.
“The
County Office of Education is grateful for our strong partnership with
Peninsula Clean Energy. Together, we are helping schools decarbonize,
preparing the climate leaders of today and tomorrow, while also
helping to build the green workforce,” San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee said.
“Our collective actions are making a difference, and I am excited about
what we can accomplish in developing climate-ready students and
schools.”
Participating
school districts will receive support with collecting facility-level
data and identifying fossil-fuel equipment. The partnership will also
provide school districts with tailored recommendations for reducing
harmful emissions on their campuses.
School
district leaders, teachers and other officials will gather at the
Climate-Ready Schools Symposium to learn about resources and best
practices for greening schools. The symposium will also recognize and
award school leadership in decarbonizing facilities.
Middle
and high school teachers will receive hands-on clean energy curriculum
and classroom materials, while students will learn about climate
solutions through the Youth Climate Ambassadors Leadership program, the
Environmental Youth Leadership Summit and field trips.
The
partnership will include preparing high school students for careers
related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, including
workforce needs for electricians.
Community
College students will also develop interactive exhibits focused on
clean energy, electrification and related careers to educate their
peers at the College of San Mateo, Caņada College and Skyline College.
About Peninsula Clean Energy
Peninsula
Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the
official electricity provider for San Mateo County and for the City of
Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, the agency serves a population of 810,000 by providing more
than 3,600 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 50 percent
renewable, 100 percent clean and at lower cost than PG&E. As a
community-led, not-for-profit agency, Peninsula Clean Energy makes
significant investments in its communities to expand access to
sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Peninsula Clean
Energy is on track to deliver electricity that is 100 percent renewable
by 2025. Follow us at PenCleanEnergy.com, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Darren Goode
Peninsula Clean Energy
202-550-6619
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