Students, community groups press Laguna Beach Unified to approve energy master plan and certificate of participation financing

Students from Laguna Beach schools and local sustainability groups pressed the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board on Feb. 13 to approve an energy master plan that would add LED lighting, solar panels with battery storage, HVAC upgrades and other resiliency measures.

The students, parents and community members framed the plan as both a safety investment and a fiscal one: they told the board the measures would reduce classroom disruptions during power outages, improve indoor air on smoke days, and lower energy costs. “Our students’ education should not be disrupted by weather, so we must act quickly,” student Macy Shearer told the board. “This plan saves money, protects students, and secures the future,” student Billy said later. Several speakers cited state and federal grants that could cover up to 50% of project costs and said LED lighting and solar would reduce annual operating…