TESTIMONY
Rich Mantell, Vice President, United Federation of Teachers on Solar Panel Installations in NYC Schools
1:10:47
·
3 min
Rich Mantell advocates for Intro 353, aiming to install solar panels on NYC schools to promote eco-friendly education spaces and job creation.
- Mantell, as VP of the United Federation of Teachers and a coordinator for the carbon free and healthy schools campaign, supports the use of solar energy in schools, focusing on disadvantaged areas.
- He emphasizes the benefits of adopting solar power, including creating healthier school environments, generating good union jobs, and reducing energy costs.
- By leveraging federal funds from the Biden administration's infrastructure plan, there's potential for significant investments in school infrastructure.
- Mantell criticizes Power Purchase Agreements for benefiting private developers over community reinvestment and undermining labor standards.
- He concludes by expressing hope for Mayor Adams' support towards reinvesting the savings from solar power into schools.
Rich Mantell
1:10:47
Hi.
1:10:48
My name is Rich Mattel.
1:10:50
I'm vice president of the UFT.
1:10:51
I'm one of the coordinators of the carbon free and healthy schools campaign.
1:10:55
Thank you, council members for holding the steering today.
1:10:58
The UFT is thrilled to be here in support of intro 353.
1:11:02
In relation to the installation of solar panels on city owned property that will prioritize schools and other city owned property in disadvantaged areas and bar the use of power purchase agreements.
1:11:13
This is a moment we can go big, and listing federal support, and building on earlier work to put solar on some New York City schools in implementing energy efficiency retrofits and solar power across our school buildings.
1:11:27
Together, we can make New York City Schools a model of green infrastructure.
1:11:31
Make schools healthier and safer for students and school community, create good union jobs, and save millions in energy costs.
1:11:38
With intro 353, we can simultaneously improve working and learning conditions for educators and students alike.
1:11:45
Increased wages.
1:11:46
Create good union jobs and pathways for students to get good union jobs, and create hubs of energy and community resilience.
1:11:55
Money from the Biden administration's $2,000,000,000,000 infrastructure plan to tackle climate change is available, and we cannot miss out on this opportunity.
1:12:03
We can use these funds to make all of our schools buildings clean and green.
1:12:08
Public schools are among the worst climate polluters and largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the city.
1:12:13
Many of our school buildings need basic repairs and upgrades from antiquated heating and air con air conditioning systems, excuse me, to deteriorating rooftops, to outdated electrical grids.
1:12:24
By investing in school infrastructure, We can create tens of thousands of good union jobs while making schools healthier and safer, all while tackling climate change.
1:12:34
With energy efficiency, retrofits, and renewable power that cut energy consumption by 50%, we can save more than 100,000 tons of carbon emissions every year.
1:12:44
The equivalent of planting 400,000 trees or taking 20,000 cars off the road, and a critical step to reaching the city's goal of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.
1:12:56
Part of realizing the just transition and job creation impacts of this campaign is the proposed ban on the use of power purchase agreements, where a private sector company owns the energy system and sold in our public assets and is responsible for installation, operations, and maintenance.
1:13:13
Solar Energy And Public Buildings Finance through PPAs are not subject to project labor agreements and instead follow labor practices that are below quality job standards.
1:13:23
PPAs do not maximize the potential savings from solar.
1:13:27
Rather, they shift most of the cost savings that come from solar energy to private solar developers, thereby reducing the city's ability to reinvest in communities hit hardest by climate change.
1:13:39
We appreciated mayor Adam's support for healthy schools.
1:13:44
And reinvesting the cost saving from their own solar power into ongoing maintenance of classroom construction.
1:13:50
During his campaign almost done, and we hope we can count on him to see that promise come to fruition.
1:13:56
Thank you.
