By Green Energy Student Forum
 

The threat of global warming and the resulting social and environmental disasters can be no longer ignored. As has become increasingly clear, the burning of fossil fuels-- coal, oil, and
gas-- all of which we are heavily dependent on as individuals and as a planet, are known to contribute heavily to global warming. In the near future it will become necessary to switch to renewable ("green") energy sources in order to address dwindling resource supplies and to alleviate the effects of fossil fuel emissions on our environment. Green energy is the term used to denote renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass. In January 2000, the state of Connecticut deregulated its electricity supply, allowing
customers to choose their energy provider, thus giving customers the option to purchase from companies that provide renewable energy. As a leading academic institution and proponent of responsible social action, Wesleyan should be taking the lead in making the switch to renewable energy. Other institutions of comparable statute have made great strides to make their campuses more environmentally sound; at present, Wesleyan is lagging far behind. 

Currently this semester there is a student-run forum being held on Green Power and the feasibility of bringing it to Wesleyan. The forum has researched various companies who currently
offer green energy in Connecticut, and has looked into Wesleyan’s current energy operations and policies. The purchase of green power by Wesleyan would make the university one of
the largest investors in green energy in the state. Wesleyan would receive national attention for its greening efforts and would serve as a leader in the field of environmental
sustainability. With the current development of the new Environmental Studies Department, as well as the many opportunities for environmentally innovative design that exist with new
campus buildings such as Clark and the Campus Center, the time is ripe for such efforts in pioneering environmental sustainability. 

In order to maintain our reputation as a progressive, socially responsible institution, it is imperative that we make significant changes to our energy use and general campus
sustainability. While there are currently tremendous efforts in environmental responsibility being made across the board at Wesleyan, without any overseeing body to coordinate this
work, it remains largely fragmented and incomplete. It is our belief that an environmental coordinator is necessary to oversee all aspects of university operations in order to ensure an effective and efficient campus greening program. The Coordinator will act as a bridge between existing resources to ensure that as Wesleyan develops its platform of environmental sustainability, it maximizes the economic, educational, and political benefits of this process. Thus, the hiring of such a position would be an invaluable asset to the university.

On Thursday May 3rd we will be hosting a community wide meeting for anyone interested in learning more about campus greening and renewable energy at Wesleyan (time and place TBD). This forum will be continued next semester, and those interested in joining are especially encouraged to attend. For more information on next year’s forum, please contact  kpaul@wesleyan.edu. For more information on what we have been doing this semester and for information on green energy, check out our webpage:  http://aelong.web.wesleyan.edu/green.html. 

The Green Energy Student Forum is composed of Wesleyan students.