El Paso ISD Passes Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Resolution, Advancing Fiscal Responsibility and Climate Resilience
PRESS STATEMENT
Contact: Ana Fuentes, anafz@projectamanecer.org
Release Date: April 20, 2026
El Paso ISD Passes Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Resolution, Advancing Fiscal Responsibility and Climate Resilience
El Paso, Texas – Amanecer People’s Project applauds EPISD for officially adopting the ambitious Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Resolution, a forward-looking, fiscally responsible approach to addressing the district’s budget challenges while preparing schools for a changing climate.
On April 21, the day before Earth Day, the EPISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously in support of the resolution that sets a goal for the District to transition to clean and renewable energy sources by 2050 while reducing net expenditures on all utilities and addressing overheated classrooms. This win was the culmination of hard work done by Amanecer’s Escuelas Frescas campaign alongside their labor and community partners as well as EPISD leadership.
The resolution was celebrated by over 50 parents, students, and community members who attended the meeting in support of the resolution. Community members held signs with slogans such as “All Kids Deserve Healthy Schools.” 17 members of the community spoke in favor including Leticia Marcum, President of the local Trades Council and Sam Schulte, a parent in the district.
“We all know that public education funding is under attack right now. We need a proactive approach to building the schools that our kids deserve. That’s what this resolution represents. This policy sets real goals that we can strive for and creates opportunities to bring in community organizations, parents & families and trade unions into a shared vision for EPISD.” - Ana Fuentes, Executive Director of Amanecer People’s Project
Trustees Dr. Jack Loveridge and Mindy Sutton led this item committing EPISD to fulfill its educational mission by providing students and staff with reliably safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments. Many schools across the district still rely on evaporative coolers that operate inefficiently in high temperatures, and create uncomfortably hot classrooms that significantly impact students’ academic performance and overall development. This environmental damage disproportionately impacts lower-income communities, and EPISD’s commitment to equity requires attention to these communities.
“This resolution moves El Paso ISD toward ambitious, but achievable goals. We will properly cool classrooms, reduce waste, and cut energy costs by prioritizing a full transition to renewable sources. I am proud that this achievement is the result of dialogue and collaboration between the Board of Trustees, district administration, and our community. Together, we are improving the lives of our students and educators and building a more sustainable future.” - Jack Loveridge, Trustee for District 3
With the approval of this resolution, EPISD’s commitment to investments in cost-effective and sustainable technologies will increase long-term savings in the face of rising energy costs, and help maximize the use of public funds while keeping public school dollars as close to students as possible.
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