Lisa Hoyos, lisa.hoyos@sierraclub.org, (510) 282-0440
Mary Lunetta, mary.lunetta@sierraclub.org; (520) 252-2335
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area School District steps out as a climate leader with broad support from students, staff, and the community.
Mendota Heights, MN -- On Monday, the District 197 School Board passed a resolution establishing the goal of transitioning the school district to 100% clean electricity by 2020. District 197 has made great strides toward 100% clean electricity and this resolution formalizes the district’s commitment.
This effort was led by district leaders, students from the LIVEGREEN club, and supported by Sierra Club’s Climate Parents program. Students presented a petition to the board with more than 1,000 signatures they collected from district students, parents, and staff.
School district leaders, parents, students, teachers, and community members attended the school board meeting on Monday to demonstrate broad support for the school board to pass this resolution. The school board voted unanimously to pass the resolution, positioning District 197 as one of the first school districts in the state to commit to 100 percent clean electricity by 2020.
District 197 is one of many Minnesota school districts with grassroots campaigns pushing for similar commitments. Other districts include Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Wayzata, and Mounds View.
“This is a really exciting time for our school district,” says Lisa Johnson, sustainability manager for District 197. “This is the latest step in our ongoing commitment to engage students and staff on sustainability issues.”
In response, Kelly Dooley, a Minnesota parent and a member of Sierra Club’s Climate Parents, stated:
"District 197’s decision to power itself with 100% clean, renewable energy by 2020 demonstrates its clean energy and climate leadership, and we believe that other school districts will be inspired to follow its example.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.