SACRAMENTO
Governor Newsom issues legislative update
Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:AB 1170 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Political Reform Act of 1974: filing requirements.
- AB 1770 by the Committee on Emergency Management – Emergency services: Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission: seismic mitigation and earthquake early warning technology.
- AB 2094 by Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Modesto) – Alcoholic beverage control: public community college stadiums: City of Bakersfield.
- AB 2436 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Cattle: inspections: fees.
- AB 2721 by the Committee on Agriculture – Food and agriculture: omnibus bill.
The Governor also announced that he has vetoed the following bill:AB 1840 by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Home Purchase Assistance Program: eligibility. A veto message can be found here.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
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SACRAMENTO
California students push for solar schools
In a powerful display of youth activism, hundreds of California students urged state leaders to champion the installation of solar panels on schools yesterday by wearing matching T-shirts, carrying colorful banners and delivering passionate speeches. The day of action, which was organized by UndauntedK12, comes as Governor Newsom considers a bill, SB 1374, which would expand solar benefits for school districts.
“When I see solar panels in our school parking lot, I feel comforted by the fact that our school and community also cares about the same issues as me. With climate change becoming more and more real, I believe that we collectively need to take small steps towards a better future where teachers are not losing their homes to wildfires. I got into climate action because I wanted to make an impact everyday, and everyday we impact the environment. Knowing our school is part of the solution for creating a livable future for our generation – it’s meaningful. That’s why we’re calling on Governor Newsom to make solar power accessible to all California schools,” said Samantha Liu, a 12th grade student at Oak Ridge High School.
Last year, California regulators adopted new solar rules that have disproportionately impacted schools, leading to a significant drop in installations. SB 1374 (Becker) would improve the economics of solar for school districts by allowing schools to use all of the solar they generate across their campuses, rather than arbitrarily being forced to sell a portion of it back to utilities for pennies on the dollar.
“SB 1374 is simply a matter of fairness for our schools and students. It removes a burdensome barrier and restores the ability for schools to self-consume the energy they produce on their property, saving millions of taxpayers’ dollars from being spent unnecessarily on utility rates that can otherwise go towards our students’ success. Schools with multiple-meters should get the same treatment as everyone else and not have to sell their power to the utility at low prices and immediately buy it back at much higher retail prices,” said Senator Becker.
Student speakers across California emphasized that solar schools are essential for combating climate change and providing much-needed funding for budget-strapped school districts facing utility bill increases. As California grapples with an electricity affordability crisis, the financial strain on school districts has been severe. Oakland Unified School District saw bills increase by $1.3 million this year alone. Clovis Unified School District has endured $2.2 million in electricity hikes since 2019—an increase that would have ballooned to more than $5 million without the district’s existing solar panels.
“Energy costs are the second-largest expenditure for schools after teacher salaries, and every dollar spent on energy is a dollar that can’t be used for teachers, textbooks, supplies and other essential resources. Solar energy has historically been a lifeline to schools struggling with high energy bills, allowing them to focus their budgets back on education. However, since California’s new rules took effect, solar installations on school buildings have plummeted, leading to a major missed opportunity to unlock more funding and ease financial pressures on our schools,” said Stephanie Seidmon, Program Director at UndauntedK12.
Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign the bill into law.
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