Student Energy Managers Save District $433K in Clean Energy Fines

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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  Wenatchee School District has avoided an estimated $433,000 in fines“Wenatchee School District (WSD) has been notified by the Washington State Department of Commerce that, due to the work of its Student Energy Managers (SEM) program, the district has avoided an estimated $433,000 fine under the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS).”
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  The avoidance of fines is under Washington's Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS)“Wenatchee School District (WSD) has been notified by the Washington State Department of Commerce that, due to the work of its Student Energy Managers (SEM) program, the district has avoided an estimated $433,000 fine under the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS).”
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  The avoidance of fines is due to its Student Energy Managers (SEM) program“Wenatchee School District (WSD) has been notified by the Washington State Department of Commerce that, due to the work of its Student Energy Managers (SEM) program, the district has avoided an estimated $433,000 fine under the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS).”
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  The information is according to a July 7, 2026 notification from the Washington State Department of Commerce“Wenatchee School District (WSD) has been notified by the Washington State Department of Commerce that, due to the work of its Student Energy Managers (SEM) program, the district has avoided an estimated $433,000 fine under the state's Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS).”
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  The SEM program is a partnership between WSD and Advanced Energy Management (AEM)“The SEM program, a partnership between Wenatchee School District and Advanced Energy Management (AEM), employs Wenatchee High School students in real, paid roles inspecting district buildings, collecting utility data, and tracking energy performance to meet state compliance requirements.”
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  The SEM program employs Wenatchee High School students to inspect buildings“The SEM program, a partnership between Wenatchee School District and Advanced Energy Management (AEM), employs Wenatchee High School students in real, paid roles inspecting district buildings, collecting utility data, and tracking energy performance to meet state compliance requirements.”
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  The SEM program employs Wenatchee High School students to collect utility data“The SEM program, a partnership between Wenatchee School District and Advanced Energy Management (AEM), employs Wenatchee High School students in real, paid roles inspecting district buildings, collecting utility data, and tracking energy performance to meet state compliance requirements.”
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  The SEM program employs Wenatchee High School students to track energy performance“The SEM program, a partnership between Wenatchee School District and Advanced Energy Management (AEM), employs Wenatchee High School students in real, paid roles inspecting district buildings, collecting utility data, and tracking energy performance to meet state compliance requirements.”
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  Wenatchee High School is at 278,000 square feet“Wenatchee High School, at 278,000 square feet, is classified as a Tier 1 building with a July 2026 compliance deadline; the remainder of WSD's facilities are Tier 2, facing a July 2027 deadline.”
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  Wenatchee High School is a Tier 1 building“Wenatchee High School, at 278,000 square feet, is classified as a Tier 1 building with a July 2026 compliance deadline; the remainder of WSD's facilities are Tier 2, facing a July 2027 deadline.”
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  Wenatchee High School has a July 2026 compliance deadline“Wenatchee High School, at 278,000 square feet, is classified as a Tier 1 building with a July 2026 compliance deadline; the remainder of WSD's facilities are Tier 2, facing a July 2027 deadline.”
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  Other district facilities are Tier 2“Washington's CBPS law requires large buildings to meet energy efficiency standards or face fines of $0.30 per square foot. Wenatchee High School, at 278,000 square feet, is classified as a Tier 1 building with a July 2026 compliance deadline; the remainder of WSD's facilities are Tier 2, facing a July 2027 deadline.”
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  Other district facilities have a July 2027 compliance deadline“Washington's CBPS law requires large buildings to meet energy efficiency standards or face fines of $0.30 per square foot. Wenatchee High School, at 278,000 square feet, is classified as a Tier 1 building with a July 2026 compliance deadline; the remainder of WSD's facilities are Tier 2, facing a July 2027 deadline.”
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  The program has already reduced district-wide energy use by over 30%“Working alongside AEM's professional team and Chelan County PUD, SEM interns have helped reduce district-wide energy use by more than 30% and generated total savings of $87,649 to date.”
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  The program has generated $87,649 in savings“Working alongside AEM's professional team and Chelan County PUD, SEM interns have helped reduce district-wide energy use by more than 30% and generated total savings of $87,649 to date.”
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  The SEM program has helped 11 Tier 1 buildings avoid fines“SEM interns have helped 11 Tier 1 buildings across the region avoid compliance fines and are currently supporting 37 Tier 2 buildings — including the Town Toyota Center, Confluence Health (CVCH), NCW Libraries, NCESD, JCPenney, and Cashmere School District — working toward compliance at no cost through Washington's Early Adopter Incentive program.”
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  The SEM program supports 37 Tier 2 buildings across the region“SEM interns have helped 11 Tier 1 buildings across the region avoid compliance fines and are currently supporting 37 Tier 2 buildings — including the Town Toyota Center, Confluence Health (CVCH), NCW Libraries, NCESD, JCPenney, and Cashmere School District — working toward compliance at no cost through Washington's Early Adopter Incentive program.”
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  The SEM program includes the Town Toyota Center“The program's reach extends well beyond WSD facilities. SEM interns have helped 11 Tier 1 buildings across the region avoid compliance fines and are currently supporting 37 Tier 2 buildings — including the Town Toyota Center, Confluence Health (CVCH), NCW Libraries, NCESD, JCPenney, and Cashmere School District — working toward compliance at no cost through Washington's Early Adopter Incentive program.”
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  The SEM program includes Confluence Health“SEM interns have helped 11 Tier 1 buildings across the region avoid compliance fines and are currently supporting 37 Tier 2 buildings — including the Town Toyota Center, Confluence Health (CVCH), NCW Libraries, NCESD, JCPenney, and Cashmere School District — working toward compliance at no cost through Washington's Early Adopter Incentive program.”
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  The program is estimated to have kept $6–8 million in local funding“In total, the SEM program is estimated to have kept $6–8 million in funding within the local community by helping area buildings avoid clean energy noncompliance fines.”
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  The program has helped area buildings avoid compliance fines“The SEM program is estimated to have kept $6–8 million in funding within the local community by helping area buildings avoid clean energy noncompliance fines.”
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  The Washington State Department of Commerce recognizes SEM as an exemplar of community impact“The Washington State Department of Commerce has recognized the SEM program as an exemplar of how to support local businesses through a no-cost model that also gives students real-world skills with measurable community impact.”
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  The Washington State Department of Commerce recognizes SEM as an exemplar of student skill development“The Washington State Department of Commerce has recognized the SEM program as an exemplar of how to support local businesses through a no-cost model that also gives students real-world skills with measurable community impact.”