A monumental victory for sustainability was recognized this past week, as one of the city’s biggest energy users marked a transition to 100% renewable energy sources.
On May 1, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) hosted a "Plugging In" ceremony to commemorate a switch back to renewable energy sourcing, a movement spurred in large part by student activists at Santa Monica High School. On the rooftop of the Samohi Discovery Building, the students were the stars of the show, namely members of Samohi’s Team Marine, who were instrumental in the SMMUSD Board of Education approving the transition.
"We have the responsibility to be the change, to break out of the status quo, and to make those revolutionary decisions that create ripples across the globe," said Team Marine captain and Samohi senior Maya Williams.
Williams came to the SMMUSD board in early 2023 with a petition featuring over 800 signatures from students and community members calling on the district to transition back to renewable sources. The district previously ran on 100% green power through the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) from March 2019 to March 2020, a decision reversed due to cost reasons. Team Marine stayed vigilant in recent years, however, playing a large role in the board approving the switch back.
"When I walked up to the podium at the SMMUSD boardroom, I spoke with leaders who are prepared to take bold climate action and stand up to the fossil fuel industry in the name of their community," Williams added.
In between the 100% renewable periods, CPA provided 40% renewable energy for all school sites aside from Samohi and Malibu High School, with SoCal Edison (SCE) providing the remaining 60%. SCE will continue to act as the pipeline to deliver electricity to school sites, but the partnership with CPA will make that energy generated by renewable sources rather than natural gas.
CPA Community Advisor Cris Gutierrez said that the district opting into renewable sources "makes such a big difference" in greenhouse gas emission reductions, and she commended Team Marine and Samohi advocates for remaining motivated throughout the process.
"The kids were the ones with the sharper sense [to say] no more waiting, we’ve got to move [on] this, and the board listened, faculty supports were generally good … I would think it’s a no-brainer, but it wasn’t a no-brainer for a lot of people … but the value of it is extraordinary," Gutierrez said.
In a March 2023 presentation to the SMMUSD Board by SMMUSD Sustainability Manager Austin Toyama, he noted that the additional cost to transition all school accounts to the CPA 100% renewable green energy rate was between $30,000 and $40,000 per year, which was down from a previous estimate of $109,000 per year. Toyama added that this cost will likely be offset by new solar systems and improved power management in the district.
SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton spoke on rooftop solar installations, a major part of energy conservation cost savings, as an initiative that has been "deeply integrated into our daily operations," and that the transition to 100% renewable energy "marked a bold step forward in our commitment to sustainability." Shelton, like others at the Plugging In ceremony, was proud of Team Marine and the Samohi advocates for their contributions.
"It is crucial to acknowledge the role our students [played] in this journey," Shelton said. "I [give my] deepest appreciation to the visionary Samohi students who advocated for this initiative … your dedication and advocacy remind us that change begins with courage and action. You are the driving force behind the transformation our world needs."
Local officials representing the City of Santa Monica also offered their support, including City Councilmember Gleam Davis who read a commendation to Team Marine on behalf of the council "for applying their climate leadership and understanding, intellect and imagination to promote and enact significant sustainability practices and climate action that [is a] model for others."
Other stakeholders in the city, such as hospitals and other large employers, are now the focus of Climate Action Santa Monica, with Co-Chair Kent Strumpell saying a shift to renewable energy is part of being "good corporate citizens." Strumpell’s Co-Chair Laurene Von Klan echoed that sentiment while also speaking highly of the student advocates at SMMUSD.
"The students are critical because they are living it now, and they will live it in 20 years, [and] they’ll be able to say we did something to make a difference for our climate and our planet … having people who will be here for the long-term speak up changes the dialogue," Von Klan said.
