U Massachusetts Amherst Announces 100% Renewable Power By 2032 Goal
The university on Earth Day unveiled UMass Carbon Zero–a vision to power the university's 1,500-acre flagship campus with 100 percent renewable energy by approximately 2032. Among other changes, the university plans to transition from fossil fuel-based steam and electricity production to a low-temperature hot water heating system paired with ground-source heating and cooling, and to use a combination of on-site battery-stored solar energy and purchased clean energy.
Cornell U Achieves STARS Platinum
Points of distinction in Cornell's recently earned AASHE STARS Platinum rating include its sustainability-focused module for all first-year and transfer students and a living laboratory project focused on ground-source heating.
California State Polytechnic U Humboldt Releases Climate Action Plan
The newly released roadmap introduces 35 actions to help the university achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and build climate resilience. The actions span buildings, energy and fuels, transportation, waste and purchasing, carbon offset and sequestration, academics and research, and resilience.
Hamilton College Sets 2030 Carbon Neutrality Goal
The college's board of trustees voted this spring to set a new carbon neutral date of 2030, 20 years earlier than the original target of 2050. The college plans to invest in energy upgrades to campus buildings, manage parts of campus to increase carbon sequestration in its lands, and continue to study and implement additional opportunities for emission reductions.
Bentley U Commits to Carbon Neutrality By 2030
The university's new Sustainability and Climate Action Plan focuses on climate resilience, equity, education and further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The plan sets a goal to purchase 100 percent of its electricity to power the campus from renewable sources by 2026 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
New Mexico Passes Bill to Make College Tuition-Free
The governor recently signed into law a bill that will waive tuition for any students attending any in-state public school or tribal college, including community colleges. In addition to covering full tuition and fees at in-state public colleges and universities, the scholarship lets students stack federal aid such as Pell Grants, local scholarships and private scholarships so that they can use these funds to pay for books, materials, housing, food, transportation, childcare and other college costs.
Virginia Tech Begins 2.1 MW Solar Electric Project
The new project involves 2.1 megawatts of solar arrays on seven Blacksburg campus buildings. A third party will develop and initially own and maintain the arrays and sell the power to the Virginia Tech Electric Service through a power purchase agreement for six years. After that, Virginia Tech plans to purchase and maintain the systems for the remainder of their 30-year useful lives.
Bates College Releases 'Sustainability Roadmap'
Bates College recently published a Sustainability Roadmap for this decade that sets the goal to sequester more emissions than the college emits by 2030. The roadmap sets forth new Passive House building standards, 100 percent renewable energy targets, and climate-focused coursework/research goals.
Marquette U Prohibits Direct Investments in Fossil Fuels
The university's board of trustees recently approved an updated investment policy for the university endowment. The new socially responsible investing and sustainability language strictly prohibits direct investments in public securities whose primary business is the exploration or extraction of fossil fuels. The university’s current investment portfolio does not include any direct public investments in fossil fuels.
