Environment Connecticut Unveils Plan to Guide Colleges and Universities Toward 100% Renewable Energy

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Environment Connecticut Research & Policy Center

Hartford, CT – Today, Environment Connecticut Research and Policy Center, touting the leadership role that colleges and universities must play in the clean energy revolution, unveiled a 10 point plan to guide college campuses  toward 100 percent renewable energy. Renewable Energy 101: Ten Tools for Moving your Campus to 100% Clean Energy, includes a series of factsheets highlighting 10 key tools to help colleges with building a 100 percent clean, renewable energy system.

“Colleges and universities across the country are situated to lead the charge in the transition to a 100 percent clean energy future,” said Chris Phelps with Environment Connecticut. “Colleges and universities have the ability and the know-how to lead by taking bold steps to shift to clean energy and eliminate pollution from energy use. We hope that the ten point plan laid out in these fact sheets can help.”

According to a recent report by Environment America, colleges and universities serve more than 20 million students and spend more than $15 billion per year on energy – so bold commitments to clean energy can drive big investments in solutions. At the same time, as influential institutions, actions taken by higher education institutions can set an example in hundreds of communities across America; while training the scientists, engineers, policymakers and civic leaders we need to move the nation toward sustainability.

Environment Connecticut, in collaboration with its national network, Environment America, and the Student Public Interest Research Groups, have campaigns for 100 percent renewable energy on dozens campuses across the country.

“America’s institutions of higher education can be at the forefront of the nation’s rapid shift to clean, renewable energy,” said Phelps,  “That’s why we’re excited to be working with the campus community to build support for a big shift to clean energy on college campuses and setting goal of meeting all of their energy needs with clean renewable resources.”

Clean energy and energy efficient technologies are growing fast and getting cheaper, making them more accessible. In the past 10 years, the United States has seen a 43-fold increase in solar power and a seven-fold increase in wind power, while the average American now uses 10 percent less energy.

 “By setting ambitious clean energy goals, colleges and universities can bolster learning and research, drive innovation, attract new students, and save money – all while setting an example for the nation and reducing their own environmental impact, said Phelps

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