One of Gov. John Kitzhaber’s first plans is to retrofit schools and other public buildings with energy-efficient technology.
One of Gov. John Kitzhaber’s first plans is to retrofit schools and other public buildings with energy-efficient technology.
The plan aims to create jobs, as well as save money on energy costs.
House Bill 2888 would authorize the state to sell bonds that would pay for loans and matching grants for school districts that want money to improve their facilities. The bill leaves many details to be decided, including the cost. The sponsor, Rep. Jefferson Smith, D-Portland, cautioned that the measure is merely a “placeholder bill” intended to begin work on the concept.
The long-term goal, Smith said, is to retrofit every public school in Oregon along with other government buildings, but this year’s bill would not reach that far.
“We spend a lot of dough on energy costs in Oregon,” Smith said. “If we can save a little of that dough … that seems really smart.”
Read more at Bloomberg.
{biztweet}house bill 2888{/biztweet}
