A Major Environmental Win with Assembly Bill 841

Many will argue that not enough is being done to implement cleaner energy and to curb greenhouse gasses. And they will rightfully use examples such as wildfires, which keep on devastating areas of California with every passing year. Meanwhile, another type of fire has been raging, namely air pollution. In addition to constantly fighting the immediate dangers of climate change, Californians have to battle high levels of exhaust emissions every day. But the new Assembly Bill 841 is proof that creating awareness helps. More importantly, it brings hope for a sustainable future.

Assembly Bill 841 was authored by Phil Ting (Assemblyman) and has been in the pipeline for almost two years before it was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom. After undergoing certain changes and losing some of the wide-spread support due to clashing views, it finally received the green light to make an environmental difference. Thus, it can be considered a small yet important victory towards implementing green alternatives, as well as prioritizing child safety.

The bill specifically targets cleaning up the air and improving energy efficiency at public schools. At the same time, it is going to kick-start the switch to electric vehicles by providing more accessibility to charging stations. The former goal involves replacing/upgrading/installing HVAC systems at public schools, including the plumbing systems if necessary. Under-served communities and schools near freeways will be inspected and upgraded first. As for the latter goal, the charging stations form part of the state’s mandate to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels on the road completely.

What makes this bill so unique is the multiple issues it addresses at once. For example, it prioritizes child safety by improving indoor air quality and ventilation. And these factors are important, especially during a pandemic. Then it speaks to the issue of schools becoming more energy and water efficient, which in turn will stimulate job creation while reducing pressure on the environment. And finally, it motivates industries to focus on promoting electric vehicles, creating even more jobs in terms of installing charging stations all over the state.

Thanks to Assembly Bill 841, schools will have access to an existing fund for improvements. That means the money being invested in school infrastructure is not going to put added pressure on tax-payers because the money is already available. And even though the bill only covers three years, the positive consequences are going to last for much longer. Add to this another big advantage of job creation during a time when unemployment has skyrocketed.

While it is true that not enough changes are being made to restore the natural balance, this particular bill provides a strong sense of hope.