Montclair State U to Purchase RECs Covering 100% of Electricity
The university recently announced a contract extending through 2025 in which it will purchase Green-e certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from wind, solar and hydro projects across the U.S. to match 100 percent of its forecasted electricity consumption.
Utrecht U Adopts Transport By Train Policy
(Netherlands) The university's executive board in mid-December announced that starting Jan. 1, 2023, journeys of less than 700 kilometers (435 miles), or that take less than eight hours, will have to be made by train rather than plane. Permission to travel by plane can can be granted in exceptional circumstances.
HKUST Adopts ESG Investment Policy
(Hong Kong) The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) pledged to eliminate investments in fossil fuels through a newly adopted environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investment strategy, consistent with the scientific consensus on climate change and the goals of the Paris Agreement. By 2030, 100 percent of in-scope assets will be invested in companies that have adopted science-based targets.
U Pennsylvania Schools Publish Climate Commitments
Announced at the U.N. COP27, each of the 12 schools of the university adopted climate commitments that spotlight courses and research in the school, while illuminating the industry outcomes as a result of emphasizing climate action.
U Wisconsin Milwaukee Releases Climate Action Plan
The university's new Climate Action, Carbon and Resiliency Plan goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. To integrate teaching, learning experiences and research, the plan calls for the establishment of the Institute of Climate Resilience.
U Pittsburgh Signs PPA for 20 MW Solar Farm
The new power purchase agreement secures for the university 100 percent of the electricity and renewable energy credits produced by a local 20 megawatt solar farm. The solar farm is expected to be operational in mid-2023.
Colorado Mountain College Installs Solar Array & Battery Storage Facility
The new 4.5-megawatt solar array is grid-tied and includes five megawatts of battery storage. The power company that operates the grid will retire renewable energy credits on the college’s behalf, in a quantity sufficient to offset 100 percent of the electricity use of three CMC campuses at Aspen, Spring Valley and Vail Valley.
U Southern California to Obtain Solar Electricity for 25% of Consumption
The new 20-year agreement will provide a quarter of the university's electricity with power from a solar farm in Mojave. In addition to lowering its carbon footprint, the university will contribute approximately $180,000 per year to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Clean Energy Adder program that supports disadvantaged communities in and around USC’s campuses.
Brandeis U Launches Year of Climate Action
Organized by the Brandeis Sustainability Committee, the Year of Climate Action aims to raise awareness for climate change as a social justice issue. Planned activities and initiatives throughout the year focus on institutional priorities, such as introducing new organic land management practices and a decarbonization study, and curricular programming, including sustainability course development funding and curated teaching resources. Other features of the year include a theater, a climate organizer-in-residence, local environmental justice events, an eco-anxiety support group, and club funding for student-designed programs.
U Arkansas Signs PPA on 5.1 MW Photovoltaic Array
The newly signed power purchase agreement (PPA) is for a 5.1-megawatt photovoltaic system that is expected to cover approximately 6.3 percent of the campus electrical energy needs. The solar project will be installed on 25 acres off campus and is expected to be completed by Q1 2024.
U Northampton Divests From Fossil Fuels
(U.K.) As part of the fossil free declaration, the university has updated its Responsible Investment Portfolio to exclude fossil fuel companies. The policy states that investment managers must consider "protection of the global environment, its climate and its biodiversity including, but not limited to, the reduction and future elimination of fossil fuel exploration and production".
U Sherbrooke Achieves Carbon Neutrality
The university's recent carbon neutrality accomplishment was achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, then offsetting the remainder through certified carbon credits. The announcement comes eight years ahead of the university's carbon neutral goal.
Stanford U Receives $1B for School of Sustainability
Stanford’s first new school in 70 years will launch this fall as the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, recognizing a $1.1 billion gift from John and Ann Doerr. The school will have academic departments that advance subject understanding, interdisciplinary institutes that innovate across fields, and an accelerator focused on developing near-term policy and technology solutions. (Image credit: Edward Caldwell)
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 onsite battery-stored solar energy and purchased clean energy.
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.
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.
Stanford U Produces 100% Renewable Energy
A 63-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant came online in March, along with a 200-megawatt battery energy storage system, that enables the university to produce more renewable energy than it uses. Excess energy generated goes onto the California electric grid.
U Exeter Sets 2030 Carbon Net Zero Target
(U.K.) The university announced recently an updated net zero emissions goal of 2030. The new target covers direct emissions (scope 1 & 2) and also includes scope 3 (indirect emissions caused by the university's activities, such as purchases). Scope 3 emissions are approximately 72 percent of the university's total emissions.
