"Green" Electricity is Colby's Latest Environmental Initiative

A commitment to purchase only electricity generated from renewable, more environmentally-friendly sources and all coming from within Maine is the latest environmental initiative on the Colby College campus, and it's one that already has had a stimulating effect on the market for "green" power choices, experts say.

It takes approximately 14 million kilowatt hours per year to power Colby's electrical needs on its Waterville campus. But, beginning in October, no fossil fuels are being burned to generate the electrical power that Colby purchases. Half is coming from Maine hydropower and the other half from Maine biomass wood waste such as wood chips and sawdust.

"Green" power is just the latest initiative in a campaign at the college to use environmentally-friendly energy sources. In the same month that the power contract was signed, three geothermal wells were drilled to provide all of the heating and cooling needs for a new 27,000-square-foot alumni center to be built on campus beginning next spring. And since 1999 Colby's own steam plant has provided approximately 12 percent of the college's annual electricity through co-generation, an innovative system in which steam for heating buildings spins a turbine to produce kilowatts on its way through the system. It produces an average of 1,700,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually saving Colby more than $150,000 in power purchases each year.

Colby's commitment to renewable sources of electricity was made possible by Constellation NewEnergy, working through the not-for-profit energy-purchasing consortium Maine PowerOptions, to provide the power produced by Maine generators and businesses.

"An important part was that Colby was actively seeking these commitments and thereby helping to make the market even before suppliers had surfaced," said Tom Tietenberg, Colby's Mitchell Family Professor of Economics and an international expert on environmental economics, emissions and climate change. "Colby's role is really very important in making sure that other institutions now have green power choices."

Robert Lenna, of Maine Power Options, affirmed Colby's role. "It was the interest and encouragement expressed by Colby and other members that was instrumental in Maine PowerOptions developing and offering the Maine Renewable Product Option," he said.

Previously, 30 percent of Colby's purchased energy came from hydropower and 70 percent from burning coal. With the Constellation NewEnergy package, nitrogen oxide emissions, which cause smog, will be reduced 41 percent and sulfur dioxide emissions, which cause acid rain, will be reduced 98 percent. Hydropower produces no carbon dioxide emissions, which cause global warming, and biomass is considered CO2 neutral because CO2 released during biomass combustion is equal to the CO2 absorbed by plants during their growth cycle, and plants produce CO2 whether they are burned or allowed to rot on the forest floor.

The alumni center, which will use three geothermal wells for heating and cooling, each 1,500 feet deep, has a long list of environmentally-friendly features and was the first academic building in Maine proposed for certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. A social sciences and interdisciplinary studies building being designed for construction a year or two after the alumni center also is proposed to be a LEEDs certified green building.

This fall Colby became a Green Power Partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its commitment to cleaner, renewable and reliable alternatives to conventional electricity generation. In May Colby became a partner with Clean Air-Cool Planet, an environmental group working directly with corporations, communities and campuses to develop and implement voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. The college is a supporting organization of Maine Green Power Connection, a network of businesses, organizations and residents working to create a viable market for greener electric power in Maine. In September 2002 Colby was awarded a Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for a campus-wide effort to adopt environmentally-friendly practices.

This press release can also be found here.

		Project R.E.S.C.U.E., which recycles the treasures and detritus that used to go into Colby's Dumpsters at the end of the year, got a plug from the Environmental Protection Agency when a description of the program was included in a "best management practices" catalog on the EPA Web site.
The catalog was designed to help institutions with pollution prevention, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. Kudos to Pat Murphy and Dale DeBlois (PPD) for their stewardship of the program and this notice. See all the ideas, including Colby's project, at the EPA. To get involved with R.E.S.C.U.E. this year, contact the Volunteer Center (ext. 3442) or anyone on the committee. Efforts are well under way, says Pat.

CLEAN AIR-COOL PLANET PARTNERSHIP President Bro Adams signed an agreement making Colby a partner with Clean Air-Cool Planet, a regional program working to reduce emissions that cause global warming. Colby joins more than 60 northeastern colleges, universities, communities, and corporations that work with Clean Air-Cool Planet, the region's leading nonprofit seeking global warming solutions. Colby agreed to complete an inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions; raise awareness of the importance of addressing climate change; consider an emissions reduction target; develop and implement a strategic plan to meet that target; monitor progress over time; and incorporate emissions reduction goals into long-term campus planning and reporting practices. The inventory of greenhouse gas emissions is all done; this year environmental studies classes of instructor Wil Burns completed an inventory of emissions data going back to 1990.

Governor's Award
	On September 20, 2002 Colby was honored with the Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence. This is in recognition of the continuing efforts of the Colby community to make the campus a more environmentally friendly place. Some of these accomplishments include reduced paper consumption in the dining halls, reduced electrical consumption due to retrofits as well as a host of other sustainable measures taken throughout the campus. Colby is the FIRST educational institution to receive this distinguished award, which was given in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection. To download the letter from the Department of Environmental Protection, click here.
Colby RESCUE!
	This past spring, the EAG helped coordinate a campus-wide initiative called RESCUE (Recycle Everything! Save Colby's Usable Excess) to save many of the things students throw away at the end of the year. Items were diverted from the waste stream by faculty, staff and student volunteers who assembled an impressive collection of furniture, clothing, appliances and more. Part of this effort included a campus-wide sale of many of the rescued items to students at the beginning of the semester.
Over 2000 sellable goods, such as lamps, toasters, hairdryers, hangers, dishes, utensils, clocks, shelving, racks, fans, mirrors, and radios were sold to students, faculty and staff. Over 2600 articles of clothing were given away to a dozen area charities. The EAG wishes to thank everyone who donated their time and assistance to this effort.