Climate change affects all of us. And as high school students preparing to leave home and start our lives, my friends and I worry about how it will impact our futures.
This year, I was able to learn about environmental policy through Model UN, where we focused on urban planning and mitigating climate change. Strategies for increasing clean energy production were a heavy focus of my research, and what we discussed stuck with me long after our conference ended. Interested in helping pass legislation to promote sustainability, I was inspired to reach out to my own representative, Rep. Lisa Borowski, and learn more about what Pennsylvania is doing to tackle climate change.
That’s how I learned about Solar for Schools.
Solar for Schools is a grant program proposed by Philadelphia Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler that would help fund solar projects for school districts all around Pennsylvania. The bill seeks to utilize both state and federal funds to provide the financial aid and administrative support needed to build solar arrays on school grounds or roofs. With the creation of this program, schools would be given the opportunity to generate their own energy, therefore cutting costs and saving money that could be allocated elsewhere.
At my school, Radnor High, we are fortunate to have many pathways for students to get involved with practices that benefit the environment. Beyond service opportunities and clubs, Radnor has both on-campus and Career and Technical Education programs that teach students valuable skills in fields like engineering, which will definitely be useful as we face changing energy needs and new technology. I’d love to see technical education around solar energy integrated into our career prep programs to help my classmates get a leg up in a fast-growing industry.
I know that not every school in Pennsylvania has the depth of programming and resources as mine. We need to make sure all schools have adequate funding. And on top of that, the savings from programs like Solar for Schools could help schools fund even more projects—whether it’s upgrades to buildings or valuable educational and training opportunities.
One Superintendent in Cambria County recently wrote, “Saving that money could mean so much more than just paying the bills. We could use it to make building upgrades or hire more teachers, counselors, reading specialists and coaches. We could introduce STEM programs to help students learn about the solar panels, or an FFA program using sheep to tend the land beneath them.”
From our state government down to our schools, prioritizing our environment is an important shift we must take for the sustainability of our future, because the climate crisis will only worsen if we sit idly by. That’s why it is crucial to inspire change both through our own actions and through the lessons we impart to students in the classroom, who will lead future generations.
Solar for Schools is the only proposal on the table that would allow schools to address short-term financial concerns, gain the educational benefits of integrating solar installation into their curriculum, and teach students what climate change means for their communities, all at once.
Growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, I’m well-acquainted with the beauty of our natural landscapes, and I remain adamant about preserving the environment I’ve enjoyed since I was a child. I also recognize that my home is in danger. We must take steps as a community to ensure that the Earth is safe and protected for generations to come.
With federal Inflation Reduction Act opportunities available, now is the opportune time to use green energy funds in a way that benefits us all—from schools, to students, to the whole planet. I hope senators across Pennsylvania take action to pass Solar for Schools!
By Zach Cohen, student, Radnor High School
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