Ali Bauer, alib03@outlook.com
Becca Zajac, bzajac715@gmail.com
Adil Trehan, adil.trehan@sierraclub.org
Radnor Township, PA -- On Tuesday evening, the Radnor Township School Board unanimously passed a resolution establishing a goal seeking to establish 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030, and to electrify all other energy needs - heating, cooking, cooling, and transportation - by 2040.
Students from Radnor High School, in collaboration with Sierra Club’s Climate Parents program, presented a petition to the board with more than 100 signatures of district students, parents, and staff asking the school board to support the resolution. The petition listed the benefits of this commitment, including saving money on energy bills, improving indoor and outdoor air quality, creating STEM learning opportunities, and strengthening community resilience. The school district’s commitment will also help achieve the 100 percent clean energy goals set by Radnor Township in 2019.
Parents, students, teachers, and community members tuned into the virtual school board meeting on Tuesday through YouTube Live, and several students demonstrated broad support for the resolution by submitting public comments. Radnor has become the first school district in Pennsylvania to pass a resolution with the goal of transitioning to 100 percent clean, renewable energy and a zero emission school bus fleet. School districts in Los Angeles, Madison, WI, Salt Lake City, Old Lyme, CT and several districts in Minnesota have also made 100 percent clean energy commitments within the last year.
In response, student leader Ali Bauer issued the following statement:
“I find it so important for schools to lead on climate action, especially with young people being disproportionately harmed by fossil fuel pollution. With that, I was thrilled to see our school board pass this resolution at such an influential time. This resolution will pave the way for our classrooms and school buses to run on clean power, and for our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to be cleaner and energy efficient. This transition will ultimately improve air quality and help prevent the spread of airborne toxins, including COVID-19. Above all, I am grateful that Radnor’s school board values the voices of their students and other community members, even amid a global pandemic. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a pivotal transition, and I can’t wait to see Radnor achieve 100% clean energy in the next two decades!”
Student leader Becca Zajac issued the following statement:
“Being a student leader for this initiative has been a very special experience; it’s given me a chance to connect with my community and involve Radnor in a national and global shift towards sustainability. I am extremely grateful that our school board recognizes the urgency of fighting the climate crisis, especially through these challenging times. By reducing our greenhouse emissions and adopting the goal of 100% clean energy and transportation, Radnor School District is leading by example. I have never been more proud. Climate Students from every grade are honored to have a longstanding impact on where we’ve grown up. I look forward to continuing this journey in the implementation stage and collaborating with district leaders to create a better school community for all future Radnor students.”
Mary Lunetta from Sierra Club’s Climate Parents campaign issued the following:
“The students demonstrated impressive leadership on a campaign they worked long and hard on. They refused to be deterred by pandemic-related school closures or social-distancing challenges, like digital engagement with district leaders and board meetings. They have been very committed to securing a healthy learning environment, free of dirty fossil fuels and greenhouse gas pollution, for all Radnor students - even during unprecedented challenges. Their perseverance is building a broader movement for bold climate action, inspiring students and families across the nation to mobilize for 100% clean energy in their local school districts.”
Radnor Township school board member Sarah Dunn issued the following:
“With all that is happening in our world, I truly commend our students' continued and unwavering dedication to shaping an environmentally conscious future. As a School Board and district, we were moved to support this cause due the students' well-reasoned and researched advocacy work. We seek to empower our students to make a positive ‘real world’ impact through classroom learning as well as by supporting their passions outside our schools whenever possible."
About Sierra Club’s Climate Parents Program
Sierra Club’s Climate Parents program is a diverse national movement of parents, students, and families mobilizing for clean energy and climate solutions. We work to influence public policy makers and energy providers to take bold steps to protect youth and communities from the health and climate impacts of burning fossil fuels---and to move toward a 100% clean energy future for all. For more information, visit www.climateparents.org.