CSU putting its energy into carbon neutrality

By Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 12, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Colorado State University is joining the quest for carbon neutrality.

Thursday, CSU President Larry Penley said the school would focus initially on reducing energy use and employing renewable energy technologies to ensure that by 2020 it can shrink its carbon footprint to zero.

In making the announcement, CSU joins dozens of universities across the country, including Harvard, Yale and the University of Colorado, that have made similar commitments.

The goal means that tons of greenhouse gases emitted by CSU's faculty and students will be offset by waste-reduction programs, energy conservation plans and the use of renewable energy, such as wind power.

"I commend them for their efforts," said Dave Newport, director of CU's Environmental Center, which oversees that university's sustainability program. CU, in 2006, said it planned to become carbon neutral by 2025.

Newport said the two universities are part of a consortium of Colorado schools, which includes the University of Denver and Colorado College, that hopes to build a wind farm and undertake a number of initiatives that will allow them to go green.

Meanwhile, CSU has undertaken a study to help determine how much CO2 the university emits.

Penley said he expected much of the money needed to develop clean energy would be generated early by reductions in overall energy use.

But he said the university would not resort to the use of controversial carbon credits to reach its sustainability goals. "Let me state directly that this plan cannot and will not be one that relies on purchasing carbon credits from others as a PR gimmick. Our goal is energy independence."

Carbon credits are sold to consumers and companies interested in offsetting such things as jet travel.

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