Press Mention The Daily Beacon March 1, 2004
SACE Quoted
Students lobby for alternative energy sources
In this mention
University of Tennessee students through SPEAK are campaigning for increased green power purchases from renewable sources like solar and wind. Working with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the group aims to pass a student referendum during SGA elections to boost UT's green power consumption from its current 0.3 percent of total power purchases.
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Full transcript
GREEN POWER
Students lobby for alternative energy sources
KAREN SMITH
Staff Writer
It's not easy going green.
Members of Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (SPEAK) are asking students to campaign for cleaner energy.
"Knoxville is ninth in the nation for worst air quality," said Lauren Chuzie, senior in journalism and energy coordinator for SPEAK.
The goal of SPEAK's Clean Energy Initiative is to pass a student referendum in the upcoming SGA elections asking UT to purchase more "green power" and make an impact in the fight against pollution, Chuzie said.
Green power, as opposed to more traditional means of harnessing energy, allows organizations like the Tennessee Valley Authority to gather power from alternative sources such as solar, wind turbine and methane gas products.
The technology used to capture power from these renewable resources is still advancing and although the sources are free, traditional power generation methods cost less.
UT already contributes to the Green Power Switch program, but SPEAK is hoping students will encourage more participation.
Of the more than 234 million kilowatt hours of power UT purchases from the Knoxville Utilities Board annually, 0.3 percent comes from green power. Each 300-kilowatt hour increase in green power use is environmentally equivalent to planting an acre of trees in the Tennessee Valley.
Students are concerned about rising tuition, but a small contribution each semester would make a positive impact in Knoxville's quality of life, she said.
Almost 60 percent of UT's power comes from burning coal which creates environmental as well as health problems. Coal, a non-renewable resource, also poses a threat to the environment when it is extracted.
Green power facts
From 2002-2004, Knoxville, Tenn., has been ranked among the top 10 cities across the United States with poor air quality.
234 million kilowatt hours — amount of power UT purchases from the Knoxville Utilities Board annually
.3 percent — amount of UT's power that is "green."
300-kilowatt hour increase in green power — environmentally equivalent to planting an acre of trees in the Tennessee Valley.
Source: SPEAK
SPEAK is working with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in a campaign to spark interest and awareness of green power.
Students across the country are "embracing" green power, said Nick Algee, green power organizer for SACE. College campuses are more progressive environments and can lead the trend to a cleaner environment, he said.
SPEAK conducted a survey on campus during the week of Feb. 16 and by March 3 the group hopes to collect enough signatures to move forward with the project.
The next step would be for students to vote for green power during the SGA elections on March 30 and 31, Chuzie said.
"We are trying to raise awareness for the election so people will go out and vote, if for nothing else, than this."
Students can make an impact on and off campus with green power. KUB sells green power to residential consumers for $4 in 150-kilowatt hour blocks. For more information visit http://www.greenpowerswitch.com.