Bill > H3691

This bill aims to promote healthy and sustainable schools in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Requiring energy audits to be conducted at all public institutions of higher education, municipally-owned institutions of higher education, and public elementary and secondary schools, with priority given to schools located in environmental justice communities. 2. Establishing a Healthy and Sustainable Schools Office within the Department of Energy Resources to oversee the energy audit process, facilitate the implementation of recommended energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems, and ensure compliance with labor and wage standards. 3. Authorizing the Healthy and Sustainable Schools Office to seek funding from various federal, state, and local sources, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act, to finance the energy assessments and energy efficiency/renewable energy projects. 4. Prioritizing the installation of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems at schools located in environmental justice and historically marginalized communities. The bill aims to address the significant energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions of educational institutions in Massachusetts, while also improving the health and sustainability of these facilities, particularly in underserved communities.