Renewable Energy Resolution
Whereas, the University of Minnesota is committed to excellence and
leadership in protecting the environment, and
Whereas, the University of
Minnesota has a tradition of concern for the environmental impacts of its
actions, and
Whereas, burning fossil fuels is also a major source of
greenhouse gases which cause global climate change, and
Whereas, burning
fossil fuels is a major source of pollutants including: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, mercury, and particulate matter, and
Whereas, the State of
Minnesota is working to create incentives for renewable energy production,
and
Whereas, the Board of Regents’ Policy on Pollution Prevention
and Waste Abatement affirms their commitment to, “encourage pollution
prevention...through changes in purchasing policies and
specifications.”
Whereas, purchasing electricity and fuels produced
from renewable resources supports the local development of Minnesota’s
wind and other clean renewable energy resources.
Therefore, the Social
Concerns Committee recommends that:
- The University of Minnesota encourage local, renewable energy projects on
its campuses. Renewable energy includes: wind, solar, biomass, geothermal,
hydrogen or future technology with a low impact on the environment. Local,
renewable energy projects should provide students and faculty with the
opportunity to research the technologies and benefits of local, renewable
energy, and
- A percentage of electricity on all campuses be purchased through a wind
energy program to support the development of Minnesota’s wind resources
and to reduce our purchase of non-renewable derived electricity, and
- By January 1, 2014, at least twenty-five percent of the energy used at the
University of Minnesota be derived from a local, renewable source or purchased
from a wind energy program or other renewable energy sources.
Approved by the Social Concerns Committee, May
2004