Schools Chief Jack O’Connell Endorses Prop 87
Calling Prop. 87 a major boost toward replacing old, diesel exhaust-spewing school buses, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has endorsed the Clean Energy Initiative.
“Prop. 87 will provide up to $600 million to replace the most polluting of California’s aging school bus fleet and will provide significant research funding to higher education in California,” said O’Connell, who in June was elected to his second term in office.
Once the leader in reducing school bus pollution, California’s drop in soot emissions was a feeble 9 percent over the last six years, according to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The study revealed diesel school buses emit substances which raise a child’s risk of cancer, asthma and many other illnesses. The study found 90 percent of California school buses still don’t have soot traps.
O’Connell said Prop. 87 will “ensure that California continues to aggressively explore energy sources derived from renewable and sustainable resources.” Prop. 87 will not increase gas prices or reduce oil production. That has been proven in Alaska, Louisiana and even Texas, which for decades have charged drilling fees similar to the one called for by Prop. 87.
Today California takes in more revenue from hunting and fishing licenses than it does from oil drilling fees. Proposition 87 will reduce California’s dependence on oil by 25 percent over the next 10 years.
O’Connell joins a growing coalition of leaders and organizations supporting Prop. 87, including Senator Dianne Feinstein, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the American Lung Association, the Coalition for Clean Air, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights and Nobel Prize laureates.
posted by Phillip | Monday, August 28 | Link to this post
