Say Yes to Green Schools

Petition for Renewable Energy and Education at Our Nation's Schools

Currently, tremendous differences in state energy policies have created a disjointed or non-existent national strategy regarding renewable energy. At this time of unprecedented volatility in the world energy market, a looming recession, and continued financial instability nationwide, most states and school systems face dire challenges to their budgets.

Unfortunately, at this time when maximum flexibility is needed, most states and school systems find themselves saddled with laws and regulations that prevent the adoption of attractive options for reducing their energy and operating costs through renewable systems. Such options may be available at no cost to the taxpayers given willing investors and the financial incentives already in place.

Efforts toward energy self-reliance will be expedited by establishing a national model to guide decisions. We seek a national energy policy that is consistent with President-elect Obama's plan for renewable energy and education at our nation's schools.

Michigan GREEN (Group for a Renewable Energy Efficient Nation) www.michigangreen.org, is a non-profit organization working with educational associations to raise awareness of these issues. We invite all Americans to join as a single voice to deliver a message to Congress to pass legislation that ensures the future of our children, energy supplies, and environment. Please join us and sign our petition for your voice to be heard. Your membership and participation will bolster our efforts to make a difference.

The time for change is right now. America's students thank you for your support.

Listed below are our petition strategies to expand the opportunities for on-site renewable energy and energy efficient technologies throughout our nation's schools:

- Eliminate electric utility standby charges that discourage onsite renewable energy generation by reducing cost-effectiveness;

- Implement minimal cost federally approved interconnection agreements with electric utilities;

- Provide equivalent government encouragement for renewable energy (versus fossil fuels);

- Federally mandate net metering for renewable energy... set a 2MW limit nationally and offer more support for net metering renewable energy generation;

- Encourage local/federal ordinances to promote renewable energy technologies;

- Develop a national energy and renewable energy policy that mandates utility conservation programs, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Energy Efficiency Certificates (EECs) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Certificates (ERC)

- Allow tax-free financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects;

- Allow third party investment into the schools in the form of on-site renewable energy systems that would supply cost effective energy, thus allowing savings to be used for the benefit of students and educational expenses;

- Create national energy curriculum that integrates renewable energy technologies and energy policies that encourage student and community engagement in meeting national renewable energy generation goals.