Intermountain Sustainability Summit
March 17, 2022
On-Demand Session

Students Steer A Clean Energy Future
Presented by: Bekah Ashley, Sierra Club Utah Chapter; Muskan Walia, University of Utah

Climate change requires all sectors of society to swiftly transition to clean energy. As significant energy users, schools play a critical role in supporting this transition. If all U.S. schools were powered by clean, renewable energy, it would be like taking 1 in 7 cars off the road or retiring 18 coal plants. Even more, powering schools with renewable energy saves money and improves the indoor air quality and health of students and teachers. That's why students in Utah are leveraging their integral role to advance clean energy solutions in schools across the state. In this presentation, you’ll hear from students and activists from Utah Sierra Club’s Student Clean Energy Campaign working to commit school districts to 100% clean energy. We’ll highlight the benefits of transitioning schools to clean energy, and share information and resources to support school districts in making a 100% clean energy commitment. Additionally, you will hear from student activists about the successes, lessons learned, and current obstacles they face as they work to navigate their campaigns in some of Utah’s largest school districts.