Pub. Util. Code, § 1600

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The School Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program, established pursuant to Section 1610, is intended to save energy, create jobs in a time of economic crisis, and provide direct support to schools and school children in underserved communities.

(b) The combined extraordinary crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession require mustering all possible state resources to protect our most vulnerable populations while also bolstering the economy as a whole.

(c) There is no program in California dedicated to improving ventilation and energy efficiency in California schools at the scale required to safely prepare schools for operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is vitally needed to protect the health, safety, and ability to learn for California’s school children and the health of California’s teachers.

(d) There is no program in California dedicated to replacing old, inefficient plumbing fixtures that waste potable water (and the energy needed to treat and convey that water) and that have high lead content that can leach into student’s drinking water. This program is needed to replace inefficient fixtures and appliances in schools, which would save approximately 6 billion gallons of water a year and protect student health.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature to advance high-quality jobs in underserved communities by increasing demand for skilled workers to implement this work.

(f) The School Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program is an urgent energy efficiency measure. This program will reduce energy use in schools that otherwise would result from repairs and upgrades to school ventilation systems that are necessary to meet current classroom ventilation requirements and applicable COVID-19 school reopening guidance. This program will also replace old, out-of-date fixtures and hot-water appliances that waste significant amounts of water and energy compared to the standards required for current fixtures and appliances. All ratepayers will benefit from the reduction in system load resulting from this program.