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WALZ VOTES TO CREATE JOBS AND MAKE SCHOOLS ENERGY EFFICIENT
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2009
Contact: Meredith Salsbery
507-388-2149
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Tim Walz voted to modernize classrooms, create clean energy jobs and ensure that students in Southern Minnesota have a safe and healthy place to learn.
H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, will make an estimated $57 million available to Minnesota schools for improvement projects. These repairs will create a safer learning environment for students and will also create the kind of jobs Southern Minnesota needs to improve our economy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
“As a teacher, I know how important a safe and healthy environment is to our students’ success.” Walz said. “Today, I supported this legislation because it will modernize our schools, help them become energy efficient and create jobs right here in Southern Minnesota.”
Walz continued “Our school buildings have been in disrepair for far too long. The legislation we passed today gives us the chance to repair our schools, boost our local economy, and reduce the amount of money school districts are spending on energy.”
H.R. 2187 would:
Provide schools with access to funding for modernization, renovation, and repair projects
- Authorizes $6.4 billion for school facilities projects for fiscal year 2010, and ensures that school districts will quickly receive funds for school modernization, renovation, and repairs that create healthier, safer and more energy-efficient teaching and learning climates.
Encourage energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources in schools
- Requires the majority of funds (100 percent by 2015) to be used for projects that meet green building standards.
- Requires school districts to publicly report the education, energy and environmental benefits of projects, and how they comply with the green building requirements.
Boost the economy by injecting demand into the market place, improving communities and generating jobs
- As our nation faces recession and rising unemployment, direct federal investment in school construction and renovation could provide an immediate boost to our economy and generate jobs.
- Federal funding for the modernization, renovation, or repair of school facilities could be spent quickly and efficiently to address the loss of 1.3 million construction jobs over the last year and a half.
Save money in the short-term and in the long-term through the use of green building techniques
- In the short term, green schools have an average savings of $96,760 per year.
- A green school typically utilizes 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water.
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