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Proponents of sustainability take new tack
By Brandon Daviet
bdaviet@mscd.edu

After receiving a less-than-enthusiastic response to their initial proposal to renew and raise clean energy fees for students, the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board is planning to take action.

“I wasn’t at the meeting when the proposal was made, but the general concern is the large fee increase that is being proposed,” Metro spokeswoman Cathy Lucas said.

SACAB’s Clean Energy Subcommittee addressed this concern by reworking its proposal to include a staggered increase in the fee, according to Andy Pattison, a subcommittee member.

“We’ve decided we are now asking for a fee of $3 in the first year (of the sustainable campus proposal), escalating to $4 in the second year, and … $5 for the third year and the fourth year of the four-year program,” Pattison said.

The retooled proposal is being made to the Auraria Board, who originally expressed concerns about the fee increase. The board cited a lack of student support when rejecting the original proposal and told SACAB to seek documented support if they wanted it to pass.

SACAB tried to increase student awareness for the proposal – before the Auraria Board holds a second, binding vote – by holding a rally at the campus flagpole on March 13.

“The increase in the fee is necessary to continue and expand the program. The $1 fee program expires after this semester,” said Shaun Lally, chair of the subcommittee. “And due to its success, the logical evolution is to expand. The new program will allow Auraria to continue to be a leader in energy.”

The clean energy fee was originally instituted by a student vote and took effect at the start of the 2004 fall semester. The fee will expire on May 13 unless it is renewed by another student vote. That vote is scheduled to take place on April 25 and 26, but only if SACAB and the Auraria Board can come to terms on the ballot proposal.

The Auraria Board voted on the ballot proposal on March 14, but the results were not available as of press time.

Auraria is currently the most environmentally friendly campus in the state with 45 percent of campus energy derived from wind energy. The Auraria Board also recently approved the installation of solar panels on three campus buildings.