WWU Students for Renewable Energy

Current Activities:

SRE is projected to host the third annual Green Tie Gala in the Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room in May. The event, catered by WWU’s Students for Sustainable Food, allows members of all environmental clubs on campus to network, share stories and join forces in making WWU a more environmentally friendly campus. WWU President Bruce Shepard is projected to speak at the event.

 

Current Campaigns:

SRE’s most recent focus has been their divestment campaign on campus. After a panel on divestment, partially organized by SRE, was held on March 7, 2014, the Associated Students Board of Directors voted unanimously on March 12 to present a divestment proposal to WWU President Bruce Shepard and WWU’s Foundation Board which makes decisions regarding the university’s investments. The plan covers a span of five years during which the Foundation Board would have time to explore reinvestment opportunities, according to a March 14, 2014 article in The Western Front. Currently, SRE is encouraging students to write letters to the Foundation Board explaining why the university should divest. These letters were hand delivered by SRE members.

 

In May 2014, the WWU Foundation Board of Directors heard a presentation from AS President Carly Roberts on divesting. The Foundation decided to hold more meetings exploring the possibility of divestment.

 

SRE began their divestment campaign in November of 2012 after hearing Bill McKibben, leader of the anti-carbon campaign group 350.org, speak in Seattle. McKibben also gave a presentation at WWU about his book 350: The Most Important Number in the World and met with members of SRE prior to the WWU Foundation's meeting. WWU is now one of about 300 colleges and universities with a divestment campaign.

 

Facts:

Global Climate Change:

• In order to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius, only 565 gigatons of carbon dioxide can be burned, total. The fossil fuel industry has about five times that amount in their reserves and would have to leave 80 percent of their reserves in the ground in order to meet this goal, according to 350.org.

• Fossil Fuel extraction techniques including mountaintop removal coal mining, hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil drilling put the health of local communities at risk due to contaminating their water supplies, according to Appalachianson.wordpress.com.

• A variety of universities have begun a green revolving fund (GRF) which invests in renewable energy sources and sustainability projects, and returns go into more green investments. The median return on investments for these schools is 28 percent, exceeding the 7-12 percent returns on typical investments, according to a study by Sustainable Endowments Institute and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

• On Jan. 8, 2014, Goldman Sachs sold off its 49 percent stake in SSA Marine, which was pushing to build a coal export terminal in Bellingham, Wash., according to an article in The Stranger.  

 

Renewable Energy at WWU:

• WWU is home to Huxley College of the Environment, one of the oldest environmental colleges in the United States. Huxley College was established in 1969 and grants degrees in environmental sciences and environmental studies.

• In 2004, a student body initiative was passed by 84.7 percent making the university purchase purely renewable energy to offset the campus’ carbon emissions.

• In 2009 the AS Board of Directors voted unanimously to give each student a “green fee” of seven dollars per quarter, creating funding for student-led environmentally friendly projects.

 

Implications:

If WWU’s Foundation Board does not agree to divest, the university will continue to invest in fossil fuel companies. In this case, WWU would continue contributing to fossil fuel companies which lobby in Washington and continue to use the 2,825 gigatons of carbon dioxide in their reserves.

If WWU’s Foundation Board agrees to divest, Western would be one of the first public universities to divest from fossil fuel companies. The university’s money would be reinvested in renewable energy companies.