BOSTON -- Environment America, along with students across the country, will launch 50 campaigns in 15 states this year, imploring colleges and universities to generate 100 percent of their energy from renewable sources.
The nationwide initiative will include educational forums, petition drives and direct engagement with administration officials to press for 100 percent renewable energy on campuses. In support of these efforts, more than 950 faculty and campus leaders have signed a statement calling for higher education administrators to make a clear commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for all operations.
This nationwide initiative comes on the heels of significant momentum for the 100 Percent Renewable Campuses campaign during the past year. This fall, the University of California system announced a shift to using only renewable sources for its electricity by 2025. Starting in June, its 10 campuses will also require all new buildings to run on non-fossil fuel power.
Elsewhere, Boston University, which has the largest student body of any university in Massachusetts, announced plans to purchase wind energy to meet 100 percent of the campus' electricity consumption. Earlier this month, Brown University finalized agreements to purchase enough solar and wind energy to meet all of its electricity needs. In addition, Middlebury College, the University of Richmond, Cornell University and Colorado State University have all made commitments to using 100 percent renewable sources.
Numerous student leaders on campuses across the country are voicing support for this initiative.
"The Vanderbilt Student Body is composed of passionate individuals who have the capacity to harness their energy and make a real change in this community," said Keegan Campanelli, a junior at Vanderbilt University and President of Student Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR). "We believe that educating them on the perils of climate change, presenting available corrective measures, and calling for action will result in a real, meaningful change on this campus. This is a special opportunity for all of us to come together to become a university that values sustainability."
Learn more about Environment America's campaign for 100% renewable energy on college campuses.