The plan, called "Leading the Charge," will also work to complete or initiate the conversion of 100 existing public schools to all-electric heating by 2030.
"New York City is 'Leading the Charge' in fighting climate change, giving our young people the tools for a great education and preparing them for the green jobs of the present and the future," said Adams. "Under this bold plan, we will not only electrify 100 schools but also ensure that we never again build a school in New York City that runs on fossil fuels. In 'Leading the Charge,' we are making a $4 billion investment in the health, education, and prosperity of our young people."
Here are seven things to know about the initiative.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN?
Under the plan, all new city public schools designed and constructed by the School Construction Authority (SCA) will be fully electric — reducing the city's reliance on fossil fuels.
It will also no longer initiate new projects to install fossil fuel combustion boilers in existing schools. The city will end its use of highly polluting No. 4 heating oil in schools — four years ahead of the legal mandate, according to the mayor's office. The city will do this by electrifying the school heating systems by converting over 200 schools to ultra-low biofuel.
The city will also install upgraded, more efficient LED lights in 800 schools by 2026 and support training and development for the students who will become the next generation of the green workforce.
HOW WILL THE INITIATIVE HELP?
The program is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 120,000 tons annually and remove more than 20,000 pounds of harmful, disease-causing fine particles from the air. That's the equivalent of removing 26,000 cars from city streets and avoiding nearly 100 respiratory incidents, saving lives and reducing hospitalizations, according to the city.
With the city already achieving a 27 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from government operations since 2006, this program will achieve an additional 3 percent reduction. It makes it the single most impactful energy-saving initiative the city is undertaking towards the Local Law 97-mandated reduction target of 50 percent by 2030.
Electrifying school heating systems to cleaner-burning biofuel will also immediately improve neighborhood air quality by reducing disease-causing particulates from on-site combustion by 999 percent.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR 100 SCHOOLS RECEIVING ALL-ELECTRIC HEATING?
According to the city, 100 existing public schools will move to all-electric heating by 2030.
Adams' investment in school electrification includes $520 million over the next two fiscal years to electrify the first 19 existing schools. It will replace fossil fuel-burning boilers that provide heat in older schools with high-efficiency, all-electric heat pumps, leapfrogging the conventional conversion to natural gas boilers and avoiding a prolonged dependency on fossil fuels.
The mayor's office said these all-electric heating systems will improve ventilation and provide fresh air to assembly spaces and classrooms, enhancing the learning and teaching environment.
WHICH EXISTING SCHOOLS WILL BE PART OF THE INITIATIVE?
The first existing school to eliminate the use of fossil fuels and provide all-electric heating is PS 5 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
Schools located in environmental justice communities will be prioritized for these retrofits, according to the city.
A list of the 100 existing schools was not immediately available.
WHAT ABOUT LED LIGHTING CONVERSIONS?
The plan will also bring high-efficiency, LED lighting to 800 schools, approximately half of all Department of Education (DOR) facilities.
The $540 million, four-year retrofit initiative — which is a partnership with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) — will employ an accelerated "direct install" delivery model, whereby qualified contractors retrofit existing fixtures with pre-specified high-efficiency components. It represents the largest and most cost-effective opportunity to save energy and help meet the city's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from government operations by 50 percent by 2030.
WHAT IS THE CITY'S PLAN TO HELP BUILD A NEW GREEN WORKFORCE?
Adams is launching a $13 million program to hire and train a group of skilled trades workers who will work to eliminate the No. 4 heating oil from school facilities. Consisting of union electricians, plumbers, steam fitters, and machinists, these workers will grow over time to support the clean energy transition and greenhouse gas reduction efforts across DOE's portfolio of buildings.
The DOE is also a key participant in the city's recently-launched Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers initiative, which is made possible by a $18.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in response to New York City's winning proposal to the Good Jobs Challenge created under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
DOE and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) are seeking to create new opportunities for graduates of Career and Technical Education (CTE) high schools to begin their careers in city government positions, including skilled trades jobs.
The DOE and other city agencies will offer on-the-ground training and experience to build on the CTE curriculum.
"We applaud the mayor for including DOE in this program and seeking to create career opportunities for high school graduates," said Borough President Vito Fossella. "We are firm believers and supporters of vocational, CTE programs and teaching of skilled trades that provide a clear path from school to career."
HOW MUCH DOES THE PLAN COST?
The full cost of the plan is $4 billion. The city announced it has already committed $2 billion and will identify the remaining funds in the coming years.
©2022 Staten Island Advance, N.Y. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
