Universities Have Taken Different Paths to Green Power

Different strategies to achieve the same goal:

• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

  In September of 2002, students from Student Environmental Action Coalition and the Carolina Environmental Student Alliance formed a coalition determined to bring renewable energy to the campus. The coalition sought advice from students at Swarthmore College and the University of Colorado at Boulder, where similar projects had been successful. After developing a strategic plan the coalition surveyed students to determine what students were willing to pay for renewable energy. Relationships were created with the Student Congress, Campus Facilities Services, administrators, and renewable energy companies to ensure the feasibility of the project.

  In November, the coalition brought the issue to the Student Congress and requested that a referendum proposing a student fee increase to fund renewable energy projects be placed on the student ballot in February. After intense debate, the Congress approved the measure by 19 to 4. The coalition recruited support from other organizations building a base of support. The following months ensued with intense publicity work educating the campus student body and grassroots tactics that included door-to-door canvassing asking for support of the initative.

  On February 11th 2003, UNC Chapel Hill became the first southeast institution to pass a student referendum in support of allocating student fees for renewable energy. The $4/ semester referendum passed, with 74.5% approval. The referendum is waiting approval from the North Carolina State legislature.

• Duke University

  In November 2002 students from Duke's undergraduate environmental organization, Environmental Alliance, proposed energy conservation measures for the school that were adopted by the Facilities Management Department (FMD). FMD implemented the conservation measures over winter break and estimated the savings at $800,000 over 10 years.

  In February 2003, a group of Environmental Alliance (EA) members proposed that the University should use some of those savings to purchase green energy. In particular, they proposed that the University put up $25,000 to 'challenge match' student, faculty and staff purchases of wind power.

  In April 2003, EA launched the Duke Green Power Challenge, an ambitious campaign to sign-up students, faculty and staff for 1,250 kwh blocks of wind power at $25 a piece. The effort garnered positive support in the student newspaper and drew 500 participants in just 4 weeks. The campaign was resumed in the fall of 2004 and continues today. Duke Universitys annual load is supplemented by over 2% renewable energy.

• Maryville College

  In the Fall 2003 Maryville College's administration agreed to a monthly purchase of 45 blocks of green power for three buildings on the campus from TVA's Green Power Switch �. Maryville College became the second higher-education institution in the Tennessee Valley to enroll in the regional program offered by TVA and local utility distributors throughout TVA's service area.

  Dr. Mark O'Gorman, associate professor of political science and environmental studies and chairperson of the College's Environment and Forestry Advisory Committee (EFAC) recognizes the College's participation in the program as progress of the College's commitment to living out its institutional environmental ethic. "Maryville College students are very aware that citizens need to become better stewards of the planet," O'Gorman said. "From classes on ethics and the environment taken from the freshman through senior years, environmental-related courses and majors in a number of disciplines, and a variety of eco-related service and ministry projects, our students and campus community commit themselves to helping the environment." (Fall 2003 GPS newsletter Green Power Switch News Vol.3 Number 4)

• University of Tennessee - Knoxville campus

  In the Spring of 2000, the University of Tennessee was an initial customer of the Green Power Switch � program. University of Tennessee (UT) currently purchases 345 150kWh blocks of green power a month, accounting for .03% of UT's annual electricity purchase from Knoxville Utility Board. The initial commitment was decided on by the administration in 2000.

  Students are currently in the midst of a grassroots campaign to increase awareness of energy issues and green power purchasing.

• Appalachian State University

  Appalachian State University (ASU) students voted in the Spring of approving a $5/semester increase in student fees by an overwhelming 81%. This student lead initiative is waiting approval from the North Carolina State legislature.