Higher Education to Benefit From Prop 39 Funds

The San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) will receive almost $465,000 from Prop 39 funds to be applied towards $600,000 in projects on campus and district office sites. The District will also receive $140,000 in utility incentives to meet the remaining project costs. According to the California Community Colleges/Investor Owned Utilities (CCC/IOU) website subtitled ‘Statewide Energy Efficient Partnership Program’ (SEEPP) the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, passed by the voters in 2012, provides $40 million in funding for energy project implementation in the Community College system for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Chancellor Bruce Baron noted, “This is an unexpected opportunity to complete needed projects on the various sites. All of the scheduled improvements increase energy efficiency, improve the safety of the sites and save taxpayer dollars. We are very grateful to have the opportunity to take advantage of this funding source on such short notice. The SEEPP dovetails nicely with our District’s commitment to sustainability established by the Board of Trustees in 2012.” The Sustainability Plan adopted by the SBCCD defines sustainability as ‘using, developing and protecting resources at a rate and manner that provides for the ability to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The CCC/IOU Energy Efficiency Partnership was created to encourage energy efficiency investments and foster best practices in the California Community College System. The state’s four investor-owned utilities (IOUs) include Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric. The CCC/IOUs have partnered with the California Community College District Chancellor’s Office and the Community College Districts to provide financial incentives and project support for energy efficient improvements to the CCC system statewide. Interim Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Services Tim Oliver added, “We will be able to retrofit parking lots and add site lighting to LED fixtures on the San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) campus and the District Office. We will replace the hot water heater pump motor in the SBVC Liberal Arts building and improve the lighting control panels along with providing lighting upgrades in a variety of other buildings. The work is estimated to save almost 600 KWH per year, which is substantial. It should translate into saving the District almost $88,000 the first year alone.” For additional information about the SBCCD Sustainability Plan you can visit www.SBCCD.org/SustainabilityPlan.