Targeting Proposition 39 to Help California’s Schools Save Energy and Money

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes how California should allocate an estimated $2.75 billion in Proposition 39 funds to support energy efficiency and clean energy projects in K-12 schools and public buildings. The analysis suggests that funds should target deep energy-saving projects that districts cannot finance independently, rather than economical projects like lighting retrofits, and should be paired with technical assistance to help districts vet proposals and navigate financing options.

• California policymakers are considering the allocation of Proposition 39 funds, estimated at $2.75 billion over five years, to support clean energy and energy efficiency projects in public buildings and K-12 schools.
• School districts are primarily pursuing short-payback energy measures, such as lighting upgrades, solar panels, and heating/cooling system upgrades, due to severe short-term budget pressures and a need for immediate bill savings. Consequently, they often avoid projects with higher initial costs despite greater long-term savings.
• A primary barrier to energy savings is the lack of technical capacity and staff resources to evaluate project proposals from commercial vendors. The briefing recommends that Proposition 39 provide non-commercial technical assistance to help districts vet providers and select contractors, noting that the California Energy Commission's Bright Schools program already offers such services but suffers from limited funding and awareness.
• Because most districts can access low-cost private capital, Proposition 39 funds should not be used for economical projects like lighting retrofits. Instead, they should target deeper energy-saving projects that are otherwise unaffordable, potentially acting as matching grants or 'sweeteners' for districts already using local bonds or state modernization grants via the School Facility Program.
• The application of Proposition 39 funds should vary based on a district's financial health: it can facilitate access to loans for some, act as a supplement for those with modernization grants, or provide full funding for financially strapped or very small districts that cannot access other funding sources.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2013). Targeting Proposition 39 to Help California’s Schools Save Energy and Money. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/targeting-proposition-39-to-help-californias-schools-save-energy-and-money/

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. Targeting Proposition 39 to Help California’s Schools Save Energy and Money. 2013. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/targeting-proposition-39-to-help-californias-schools-save-energy-and-money/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=Targeting Proposition 39 to Help California’s Schools Save Energy and Money |date=21 May 2013 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/targeting-proposition-39-to-help-californias-schools-save-energy-and-money/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2013targeting, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{Targeting Proposition 39 to Help California’s Schools Save Energy and Money}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2013}, month = may, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/targeting-proposition-39-to-help-californias-schools-save-energy-and-money/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }