Clean Air Allies Mentioned in Orange County Register Article on Extreme Temperatures and Schools’ Need for HVAC Upgrades
Clean Air Allies Mentioned in Orange County Register Article on Extreme Temperatures and Schools’ Need for HVAC Upgrades
On April 19, 2026, the Orange County Register published “Nearly $200 million set aside in California to update school HVAC systems remains unspent,” which mentioned Clean Air Allies.
The article focuses on the challenges faced by TK-12 schools in San Bernardino County, which contains both desert and mountain terrain, making it susceptible to extreme weather conditions. These conditions can result in uncomfortable classrooms and school closures.
The article also describes how CalSHAPE grant program funds that could pay for HVAC upgrades — helping protect schools against heat waves, wildfire smoke, and infectious diseases — have gone unspent due to an applications freeze resulting from efforts to repurpose these funds. In San Bernardino County, 227 schools received CalSHAPE grants for initial HVAC assessments and minor repairs, but only 7 have been able to secure follow-on grants to address serious deficiencies.
Clean Air Allies’ Project Director JuNelle Harris contributed subject-matter expertise to investigative reporter Rachel Fobar and is quoted in the article.