Colorado Estimated to Receive $66 Million; $16 Million Estimated for Denver County Alone
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today supported legislation that will improve our public schools, create clean energy jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower energy costs for taxpayers. The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act passed by the House, on a bipartisan vote of 275 to 155, will invest in our schools to boost our economy now and help prepare our children for the jobs of the future.
“This legislation will go a long-way in boosting our economy by investing in our schools,” said DeGette. “It will also give us a chance to upgrade our school buildings and boost student achievement while creating good local jobs in new, clean energy industries. Coloradoans will benefit greatly from this forward-looking bill. With our schools hundreds of billions of dollars short of the funding needed to bring them up to good condition, Congress has taken an important step towards ensuring our children have the facilities to receive a quality education.”
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act provides over $6 billion in federal funds to upgrade school buildings to make them more energy efficient and more reliant on renewable sources of energy. Colorado will receive approximately $66 million in funding and $16 million for Denver County alone. The bill also generates long-term savings for schools by reducing energy expenses. Green schools reduce pollution by using about 30% less water and energy than conventional schools, and emit almost 40% less harmful carbon dioxide. They have also been shown to have reduced absenteeism due to asthma, colds and flu.
According to calculations by the Economic Policy Institute, this legislation’s construction funding would support as many as 136,000 new jobs – many in areas that will give workers the valuable skills they need to excel in a clean energy economy.
“This legislation will go a long-way in boosting our economy by investing in our schools,” said DeGette. “It will also give us a chance to upgrade our school buildings and boost student achievement while creating good local jobs in new, clean energy industries. Coloradoans will benefit greatly from this forward-looking bill. With our schools hundreds of billions of dollars short of the funding needed to bring them up to good condition, Congress has taken an important step towards ensuring our children have the facilities to receive a quality education.”
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act provides over $6 billion in federal funds to upgrade school buildings to make them more energy efficient and more reliant on renewable sources of energy. Colorado will receive approximately $66 million in funding and $16 million for Denver County alone. The bill also generates long-term savings for schools by reducing energy expenses. Green schools reduce pollution by using about 30% less water and energy than conventional schools, and emit almost 40% less harmful carbon dioxide. They have also been shown to have reduced absenteeism due to asthma, colds and flu.
According to calculations by the Economic Policy Institute, this legislation’s construction funding would support as many as 136,000 new jobs – many in areas that will give workers the valuable skills they need to excel in a clean energy economy.
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