San Diego, January 23, 2025—Last night, Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) approved a bold electrification resolution to phase out fossil fuels across all district infrastructure by 2035. Led by students, advocates, and the school community, the resolution commits to clean air, healthier schools, and green jobs education.

Students partnered with Climate Action Campaign, a local nonprofit that helped achieve similar clean energy victories at San Diego Unified and Sweetwater Union High School Districts.

“The environment is vital to our lives and should be protected by all of us. Whether it’s a walk to unwind or dropping your kid at school, cleaner air at CUSD would improve daily lives in our district.” — Kayley Teagle, Sage Creek High School Alum

This commitment represents a long-standing need to shift away from dangerous fossil fuels to clean energy alternatives. Students delivered a clear and powerful message compelling school districts to follow their lead: action is non-negotiable. As a result, schools are leading the charge on local climate action, proving that all-electric infrastructure is affordable, essential to a safe future, and entirely within reach.

This resolution comes at a critical moment when federal policies are rolling back clean air and climate protections while deepening our reliance on harmful, life-threatening fossil fuels. As Southern California grapples with devastating wildfires and communities face the escalating impacts of climate change, CUSD is stepping up to safeguard its students’ right to a climate-resilient future.

“We cannot minimize the cost of inaction as we look to our neighbors in LA where over 20 school districts have faced closures due to poor air quality from the fires, leaving over 700,000 students out of class. This is an opportunity to not just protect air quality, but be fiscally smart and plan for long-term savings that go back into classrooms, to teachers, to students.” — Serena Pelka, Climate Action Campaign Policy Advocate

Key Commitments in this Electrification Resolution:

• All-Electric Infrastructure: All new buildings and modernization projects will be fully electric, eliminating gas infrastructure. Existing gas systems will be replaced with electric alternatives at the end of their lifecycle or sooner.

• Fossil Fuel Phase-Out: By 2035, fossil fuels will be phased out of all district infrastructure, including buildings, maintenance vehicles, and lawn equipment.

• Transition to Clean Energy: By April 2025, CUSD will transition to 100% clean energy through Clean Energy Alliance’s Green Impact service.

• Electric Fleet: Gas-powered vehicles in the district fleet will be replaced with electric vehicles.

• Green Curriculum: Climate change and its impacts will be integrated into the TK-12 curriculum by 2026, prioritizing green careers education and preparing students for the clean energy workforce.

This decision represents a significant milestone in prioritizing student health and safety over gas industry profits and aligning with California’s climate targets.

“This has been a consistent value of this school district for many, many years to have clean energy and to be generators of clean energy and to support our community.” — Kathy Rallings CUSD Board of Trustees President

Where political gridlock and fossil fuel interests have stalled progress, Carlsbad Unified has chosen to protect its school community. The district sets a powerful precedent for neighboring jurisdictions by committing to a clean energy reality.