Staff editorial: Energizing the movement

Over the past few years, this university has demonstrated a commendable effort to reach the goals outlined in its Climate Action Plan, which was drafted in 2009 and calls for cutting net carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2020 and by 100 percent by 2050. Last year, the university purchased renewable energy from three sources in the area — two wind farms and one solar plant — as part of a long-term agreement with the state and several local companies called "Generating Clean Horizons." The initiative has recently gained momentum, as the plants are becoming operational.

The purchases will allow the university to use green power for a portion of its energy needs for the next 20 years, but officials declined to tell this newspaper how much they paid for those credits. This editorial board supports the decision to invest in renewable energy, but we wish they had shared all the details with our readers. Our disappointment stems not from concern that officials paid an astronomical monetary figure for these credits — that would be a separate issue — but from our view that failing to disclose this information diminishes the investment's impact.

Officials should reveal how much they pay for future sustainability projects. Indeed, they should share the details of most of their expenses, regardless of the nature of the purchase. But for trailblazing projects that speak to the university's values and priorities — such as these renewable energy sources — sharing the price tag would be more than a good faith display of transparency. It would show the university community they're confident in their purchase and not ashamed of how deep they had to reach into their pockets to support a cause they care about. This editorial board wants to know what price, literally, the university is prepared to pay to participate in the sustainable energy revolution.

In an interview with The Diamondback, Joan Kowal, a director in Facilities Management who orchestrated the purchases, explained, "Our goal wasn't necessarily to reduce our cost. It was to commit to renewable energy."

We believe part of that commitment should be sharing the cost with the rest of the community, as well as with the rest of the country. University officials have a habit of basing important decisions on the precedents set by our peer institutions. While this practice isn't without flaws, it makes sense in one important respect: If our competition is outshining us in a particular area, we want to recognize the disparity and rev our engines to catch up.

This desire to keep pace goes both ways. This university, thanks to many dedicated students and faculty and a state legislature that shares our goals, has established itself as a leader in the green movement. We've been recognized with various honors by a variety of organizations, including being ranked No. 6 on the Environmental Protection Agency's 2011 list of universities that bought the most green power credits. If other institutions can see we're willing to invest a substantial amount of money in sustainability initiatives, they'll be more inclined to follow suit.

Officials have made it clear they're passionate about facilitating a widespread transition to clean energy, but in order to realize that goal, they must encourage others to make similar choices. The more institutions that unveil the financial details of their green purchases, the easier it will be for others to ascertain appropriate price ranges. Hopefully, that will prompt more businesses and individuals to seek an attractive option that fits their needs.

The conversation about sustainable technologies will continue to grow until supporting these industries becomes commonplace. According to basic economics, a greater demand for clean energy will increase the number of suppliers and drive costs down. Certainly, those are benefits worth getting energized about.