In its first general assembly meeting since the March election, Undergraduate Student Government covered various topics pertaining to campus sustainability at the University.
Campus Sustainability Manager Nicholas Hennessy provided updates on the work that the Office of Campus Sustainability has been doing and the president of the Environmental Action Group, Brad Holmes, addressed the assembly on the topic of eliminating plastic bags on campus.
Hennessy first gave a presentation updating the assembly on various sustainability projects in development. These include the development of the proposal status for a potential solar array, the transition to more outdoor LED lighting on campus and the introduction of a new, fuel-efficient bus fleet.
The Student Green Initiatives Fund has pledged $500,000 toward solar energy on campus, and the University is currently working with Third Sun Solar and the city of Bowling Green to potentially implement a 20 acre large, 5 megawatt capable solar array on campus. The Office of Campus Sustainability is currently reviewing potential locations and will make a decision on implementation in the coming weeks.
“This would be a great accomplishment for our University, as well as a great way to reduce our energy costs and our carbon footprint,” Hennessy said.
Phase one of the process for full outdoor LED lighting on campus is wrapping up, with new lighting placed throughout old campus and along Ridge Street. Outdoor LED lighting requires less maintenance and is more efficient and cost-effective.
The Student Green Initiatives Fund has also provided funds for the conversion to a propane-fueled bus fleet, set to take place this summer.
Holmes addressed the assembly on the topic of reducing plastic bag use on campus. EAG has been leading a grassroots campaign to ban plastic bags at the University, last lobbying USG for support in February.
Holmes advocated for the replacement of plastic bags with reusable ones made of sustainable materials. EAG has collected over 500 signatures from students for a petition in favor of banning plastic bags, with other petitions currently in circulation.
“We are young people, and we are being handed a huge amount of environmental problems,” Holmes said. “We are the people who are going to have to address this issue, and starting here locally — eliminating plastic bags — is a great opportunity.”
EAG’s advocacy has led to the introduction of a Senate resolution in support of banning plastic bags at the University, which was authored by Senator Eugene Gorman. The assembly debated the resolution and will vote on it at the next general assembly meeting April 16.
