This bill could improve energy efficiency in schools

A Massachusetts bill could give public schools and universities an energy efficiency upgrade. 22 News state house reporter Olivia Ray attended a bill hearing and has the pros and cons of this policy. >> Lawmakers and stakeholders are pushing for a bill that would ensure Bay State public schools and universities are as energy efficient and upto-date as possible. This piece of legislation filed by a Cambridge representative would allow for building energy audits to target issues and provide efficiency improvements, specifically targeting facilities in underserved areas and historically marginalized communities. The idea behind the bill is to get efficiency upgrades done before climate change necessitates them and make sure students have safe and healthy environments for learning. The AFL CIO represents thousands of workers in the Bay State. The union testified that the bill benefits not only students and teachers, but also construction workers. >> It would assess the energy infrastructure in our public schools and rebuild them in the most energy efficient possible way possible that also supports good union construction jobs. It also creates healthier teaching and learning environments for our educators and our kids. >> This bill is not without opposition. One testifier representing contractors told lawmakers the bill's bidding requirements would limit competition and workforce participation. While these contractors support healthy and sustainable schools, they would like to see changes made to the bill's wording to ensure a fair bidding process to procure projects. The House and the Senate are both required to release their recommendation on whether the bill should pass within the next 10 weeks. Working for you from the state house in Boston, I'm Olivia Ray, 22 News.