Frank Schubert, CEO of Tracy Renewable Energy, spoke to students on Sept. 11 in Tracy High School’s theater about sustainable energy and water management.
The presentation was part of Tracy’s Earth project and is aimed at teaching students the importance of conserving resources while also understanding where their water and energy come from.
Schuber explained how energy use and water waste affect both local communities and the global environment. He stated small things such as reducing daily water use can make a major difference over time.
“I want students to remember not to give up when they’re working at something,” Schubert explained. “Everything is hard, but if you keep at it, you can do things that are more satisfying and help your community, not just chase money or a big house.”
Schubert also discussed the importance of students understanding environmental issues early on.
“If my generation had understood things better, we could have saved a lot,” Schubert explained. “That is why it is important for young people to make choices that help the community.”
Payton Brown, a student that attended the presentation, expressed how the presentation helped her better understand renewable energy, the water usage and the production that goes into our community.
“I thought that today’s Earth Day presentation was very insightful,” Brown expressed. “It really helped the students understand the importance of renewable energy, especially with global warming and the state of the world.”
Brown also said that the section about California’s drought made a lasting impression.
“The part that stood out to me the most was hearing about the water issue in California.” Brown stated, “It was very interesting to learn how much water we use and why the drought is such a problem.”
Another student, Seerat Sandhu enjoyed learning about specific projects at the facility and the process behind it.
“I thought it was really cool,” Sandhu exclaimed. “I didn’t know much about renewable energy before, and it was interesting to learn about the different missions at the facility and how much energy they produce.”
The Earth Day Presentation ended with a reminder that slight changes, like saving water and reducing waste, can lead to a better future.
