WashPIRG & Environment Washington Unveil Plan to Guide University of Washington Toward 100% Renewable Energy

Media Contacts

Environment Washington Research and Policy Center

Seattle, WA – Today, WashPIRG and Environment Washington 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 University of Washington 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 universities in Washington, including University of Washington, 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 Joy Shang, 100% Renewable Campaign Coordinator for WashPIRG at UW. “UW has 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 Washington, in collaboration with its national network, Environment America, and the Student Public Interest Research Groups, including the WashPIRG chapter at UW, have campaigns for 100 percent renewable energy on dozens of campuses across the country.

We’re excited to be working with the campus community to build support for a big shift to clean energy on at the University of Washington 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.

“When I was asked to speak on behalf of my club at this event, I didn’t even have to discuss whether or not we were at either a meeting, or in our group page, because this campaign lines up fully with what we believe is necessary to make a difference” Said Cassie Maylor, Student Association for Green Environments, Co-chair

“Working to achieve 100 percent renewable energy on colleges and universities allows us to train young activists, future leaders and researchers to continue advocacy on clean energy off campus and in their communities”, said Bruce Speight, Environment Washington Director.

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The WashPIRG student chapter at UW is a student-run, student-funded public interest organization that trains students to make a difference by engaging in campaigns that solve some of the biggest problems facing our state and country. www.washpirgstudents.org. Environment Washington is a statewide, membership-based environmental advocacy organization that works for clean air, clean water and open spaces. www.environmentwashington.org.