By BG INDEPENDENT NEWS
Just because Bowling Green State University is taking a pass on a solar power offer from the city doesn’t mean it’s not pursuing alternative energy options.
In a letter sent to the campus environmental activists, university officials explain why they are turning down an offer to place a solar array on campus, and what other efforts are underway to meet the terms spelled out in a national agreement to reduce carbon emissions on college campuses.
The letter by Bruce Myer, assistant vice president for campus operations, and Nick Hennessy, sustainability coordinator, was sent to Matthew Cunningham, president of Environmental Action Group, and Lily Murnen, president of the Environmental Service Group, in response to a letter sent by them and signed by dozens of other student leaders, questioning the university position on a city solar project.
The city is planning to construct a large solar array and offered to place some solar panels on a plot of land on the campus. On Monday Bowling Green City Council heard from Daryl Stockburger, of the city utilities department, that AMP-Ohio had reached a joint development agreement for Bowling Green’s solar field. Stockburger said the solar array should be ready to construct this year.
The agreement, the university’s letter states, would tie up the property, which has frontage on East Poe Road, for 30 years. The university does not have plans for that site, where construction debris was dumped, but using it for a project and equipment not owned by BGSU “was deemed to provide too many restrictions on its potential use.”
The letter also states that since the electricity generated by the array goes into the grid, BGSU benefits whether the solar panels are on campus or off. It shares in the power from the grid, and reaps the benefits of being able to report that it gets some power from solar energy “helping us reach our carbon neutrality goals.”
The students in their letter touted the learning possibilities of having a solar array on campus. Those same opportunities will be available at the city’s site a short drive from campus on Carter Road, the university’s letter stated.
A couple weeks ago, Bowling Green Mayor Dick Edwards said BGSU’s refusal to join the city in its solar project was “disappointing.” City officials spoke with university officials about doing a small demonstration project, but got shot down. “We’ve had pushback, and not from the top,” Edwards said, adding that the project would not have required a major financial commitment from the university. “All they had to do was share one or two acres.”
Council president Mike Aspacher said the solar project seemed like a “natural fit” with BGSU.
Faculty and students also seemed to support the idea, Edwards said. “It’s hard for us to get our heads around the reasons” why BGSU doesn’t want to join in the solar project.
“There is the potential for other renewable energy and sustainability projects on campus that may be even more beneficial to reducing our carbon footprint,” the university’s letter stated.
BGSU is embarking on a Renewable Energy Feasibility Study that will look at solar and “many other forms of renewable energy.”
“Student involvement will be very important in determining and pursuing that potential,” the letter states. Students will be members of the study groups. The funding for the project, will come from the BGSU and Student Green Initiatives Fund.
“The potential certainly exists for BGSU to create its own direct sources of renewable energy which would not merely be housed on campus but would provide energy for direct university use, not merely placed on the power ‘grid’ system.”
The university, the letter concludes, has already made progress in meeting its commitments made as a signatory to the Climate Leadership Network, an initiative of higher education leaders.
That progress has been made by conservation projects, new lighting and “sustainable construction.”
“Renewable energy is certainly our next target,” the letter states.
For students’ response see: http://bgindependentmedia.org/2016/03/17/bgsu-students-respond-to-universitys-stance-on-city-solar-project/
