The University of Colorado at Boulder was one of 11 organizations and companies to receive a Green Power Leadership award given by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Resource Solutions.
CU-Boulder received the award in July for its role in building demand for green power, which is electricity generated by renewable energy sources including solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass and biogas.
"Those who purchase green power do so with a sense of stewardship," said DOE Senior Environmental Scientist Gerald Kotas. "It is very important that people in this country are aware of these purchases of renewable energy sources."
In April 2000, CU-Boulder students turned out in record numbers and voted by a 5-to-1 margin to increase student fees by a dollar per semester for four years to purchase wind power. The fee increase raises about $50,000 annually, enough to purchase the output of an entire wind turbine, which is equivalent to 2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year for four years.
"The students' purchase of wind power was a reflection of their forward thinking and concern for the environment," said Ghita Levenstein, program coordinator for the CU Environmental Center. "It is an honor for the students and the university to be recognized nationally by receiving the Green Power Leadership Award."
CU-Boulder is one of the largest purchasers of wind power in Colorado. The student-approved purchase of wind power was the first in the nation, and has been used as a model by several other colleges and universities.