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University of Massachusetts Amherst commits 100% renewable energy

University of Massachusetts Amherst commits 100% renewable energy

New plan would see campus generate all its power using clean energy sources by 2032

AMHERST, Mass. The University of Massachusetts was a part of the Earth Day celebrations Friday. Chancellor KumbleSubbaswamy announced that Massachusetts’ flagship public university will be completely powered by renewable energy by 2032. MASSPIRG students at UMass Amherst led the effort to secure UMass’s commitment to generate 100% of its power from renewable sources.

The University’s commitment to 100% renewable power is the culmination of hard work by students, faculty, and administrators, said Caroline Sunuwar (a sophomore at UMass Amherst who is also the 100% Renewable Energy Campaign Coordinator for MASSPIRG Students). This important issue has united the UMass community in order to bring a vision to fruition and to drive progress towards 100% renewable electricity.

The plan is broad and aims to achieve 80% renewable energy reliance by 2030 and 100% by 2032. Energy is defined as electricity, heating/cooling, and transportation. The plan focuses on reducing energy waste at campus by adopting higher green building standards in new buildings and renovations, as well as a behavior change initiative to encourage voluntary conservation and strategic efficiency improvements that reduce energy waste.

The plan includes the retirement of campus steam heating and its replacement with low-temperature hotwater for heating. Heat will be generated from geothermal wells that are drilled underneath the athletic fields, a thermal array and other non-fossil energy sources. The campus plans to increase its on-campus solar power and convert the entire campus fleet to electric vehicles by 2030.

Johanna Neumann is Senior Director for 100% Renewable Energy at Environment America Research & Policy Centers. Neumann is a resident of Amherst and said that UMass Amherst’s plan will make it one of the top universities in the transition towards renewable energy. UMass students, faculty, and staff have demonstrated support for eliminating fossil fuels on campus for many years. It is exciting to see the administration committing to that vision. It’s time for other universities and colleges to follow the UMass example towards a future powered only by clean energy.

In partnership with Environment America Research & Policy Center and Student PIRGs, the Student PIRGs have helped students on more 50 campuses across 15 states to make higher education 100 percent renewable energy. Other universities Boston UniversityHarvard and Harvard have committed to 100% clean energy, while Harvard has pledged to provide the University of California, BerkeleyHe has committed to eliminating all fossil fuels by 2050.

This is a bold plan that is worthy of the flagship University of a Commonwealth, which aims to be at forefront of the clean-energy transition. Ben HellersteinEnvironment Massachusetts Research & Policy Centers state Director. It is not an easy task to power a university campus with renewable energy, but it is essential. UMass is setting a strong example for other institutions and state officials on Beacon Hill.

The Legislature is currently considering a bill sponsored in part by state Reps. Marjorie Decker & Sean Garballey. 100% Clean Act(H.3288, S.2136), which would transform Massachusetts to 100% clean energy for electricity, heating and transportation.

“Congratulations UMass Amherst for leading the way by demonstrating its commitment to a future without fossil fuels,” said Rep. Decker. I am proud to be an alumna, and a grateful legislator. This transition is our best hope for a better future for all of us. Already, we are suffering from the catastrophic effects of climate change. This is threatening our security as well as harming many who are already economically or politically marginalized.

For more information on the campaign to convert America’s colleges and universities into 100 percent renewable energy, click here https://www.go100renewablecampus.org/ or https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/100-renewable

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