[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE VERMONT SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION'S SCHOOL ENERGY 
                           MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to share with you some information 
regarding an outstanding program in my State that helps schools save 
hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in energy costs, while 
dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental 
pollutants.
  Since 1993, the Vermont Superintendents Association's School Energy 
Management Program has assisted Vermont schools with the implementation 
of cost-effective energy choices and efficiency measures.
  Energy cost savings realized by the more than 125 public and private 
schools which the School Energy Management Program has assisted now 
exceed an estimated $950,000 annually. A significant proportion of 
these annual savings is due to the 23 public schools which utilize 
biomass wood chips for all or part of their heating requirements.
  The concept of the School Energy Management Program was developed by 
the Vermont Department of Public Service in 1993 and the Vermont 
Superintendents Association agreed to host the program. The program is 
supported by the Federal Government via various grant funds; the 
Vermont Department of Public Service; the Vermont Department of 
Forests, Parks and Recreation; the Vermont Department of Education; 
Efficiency Vermont, the statewide electric efficiency utility; the 
Montpelier-based Biomass Energy Resource Center; the Vermont Department 
of Health; the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust's School 
Management Resource Center; the state's electric and natural gas 
utilities; and private architectural and engineering firms.
  Participation in the program is voluntary and core consulting and 
assessment services of the School Energy Management Program have 
traditionally been provided to schools at no direct cost to Vermont 
school district taxpayers and with no compensation or ``shared 
savings'' demands. The program takes pride in ``saving real taxpayers 
real money'' for the long term, while improving the educational 
environment for Vermont students and saving energy.
  The program works to accomplish on-site energy assessments and 
provide energy conservation consulting services to schools. The 
program's work is not limited to one energy source or type. It 
includes: biomass heating, including ongoing support to the 23 Vermont 
public schools which now utilize biomass wood chip heating systems; 
electric energy efficiency; advice concerning electric, natural gas, 
propane, and fuel oil water and space heating fuel choices; and school 
kitchen equipment efficiency.
  One of the program's most remarkable components is the development of 
wood chip heating systems, an environmentally sound energy choice 
saving money for Vermont schools and Vermont taxpayers. These systems 
provide many benefits to Vermont schools and set an excellent example 
for schools and public buildings in Vermont and across the country.
  Wood chip heating can provide significant cost savings to many 
schools: Vermont schools currently save over $366,000 in fuel costs 
annually by utilizing wood chip heat.
   More than 10 percent of public school students in Vermont currently 
attend wood heated schools and in Vermont there are now 23 public 
schools which use wood chips for heat and two more schools will start 
using wood chips for heat in late 2004.
  Wood chips are a renewable source of energy, currently saving Vermont 
schools over 720,000 gallons of fossil fuel annually by utilizing wood 
chip heat.
  Wood chip utilization recycles carbon that already exists in the 
natural carbon cycle; therefore no new carbon dioxide is added to the 
atmosphere from this biomass energy source.
  Wood chips are supplied from Vermont and the adjacent region; hence 
money spent on wood chips stays in the local economy and supports jobs 
in the area's forest products industry.
  For buildings 50,000 sq. ft. and larger, fuel cost savings likely 
more than offset capital financing costs combined with additional 
maintenance staff time requirements; hence, in many cases, a system can 
``pay for itself'' in 5 to 10 years.
  I enthusiastically commend the Vermont Superintendents Association's 
School Energy Management Program for setting an excellent example for 
school systems and other public and private facilities throughout 
Vermont and across the country. Mr. Speaker, it is my intention to 
introduce legislation to encourage schools across the country to take 
advantage of their innovative, environmentally sound and cost-effective 
heating and energy solutions. It is imperative that American schools 
save money on energy costs for their taxpayers, help improve 
environmental conditions related to heat and energy production, and 
help support their local job markets in the process.

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