El Monte Union High School District Celebrates Progress in Implementing $9.8 Million Clean Mobility in Schools Grant
El Monte Union High School District hosted a “green ribbon
cutting” event on Wednesday August 19th to celebrate the District’s
progress in implementing their $9.8 million Clean Mobility in Schools grant.
El Monte Union administrators joined with representatives
from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), project corporate partners,
state and local officials, and clean air advocates to cut a ceremonial ribbon
on the initiative that puts into action California’s promise to drive
zero-emission technology to support air quality and combat climate change.
Congratulations to the El Monte Union High School District for serving as a model
for how that zero-emission future could look!
The goal of the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project
addresses multiple community concerns, including advancing environmental
education, fostering clean mobility behavior changes, and improving the school
community’s air quality and public health. CARB awarded these grants to three
school districts in California, including El Monte Union High School District.
Each project is tailored to best address the nearby community’s needs. These
projects are piloting small-scale initiatives and long-term planning, that will
yield a wealth of lessons learned, best practices, and blueprints for other
school districts to replicate. One hundred percent of the dollars for these
three Clean Mobility in Schools pilot projects are in priority populations like
El Monte. The other Clean Mobility in Schools Grants are located in Stockton
and San Diego.
“This is a great day for El Monte Union, for residents of
California and everyone who is working hard to reverse the deleterious effects
of air pollution and provide blue skies for our children and grandchildren,” El
Monte Union Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “The District is proud to be
here as an inaugural member of the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project.”
In El Monte Union, which includes high school students from the
communities of El Monte, South El Monte, Rosemead and Temple City, the Clean
Mobility in Schools grant funded:
·
A fleet of 11 new electric buses
·
Three new electric motor pool vehicles
and 11 maintenance vehicles
·
Five onsite energy storage units tied
to the District’s solar power system
·
Large capacity charging stations at
two locations
·
Development of an Active Transportation Plan
·
Development of a Clean Energy Career Pathway
·
Outreach to foster clean mobility
throughout the community
After the ribbon-cutting, guests received an opportunity to tour
of one of the 11 new zero-emission school buses. Green-tech stations provided
guests with information on each of the seven aspects of EMUHSD’s Clean Mobility
in Schools Pilot Project, as well as how they can help to protect the environment.
The Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project, funded by CARB,
is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts
billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment –
particularly in disadvantaged communities.
For more information on Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot
Projects visit CARB’s
Moving California Website.