UB has been named "Environmentalist of the Year" by Environmental Advocates, the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, for its increased investments in wind energy.
According to John Russo, assistant director of University Facilities, UB purchased 8 million kilowatt hours of wind energy in 2003 from Community Energy, Inc. It plans to purchase 12 million kilowatt hours in 2004, making it New York's largest purchaser of wind power.
Soon after Gov. George Pataki issued an order in June 2001 for State University of New York system schools and other state agencies to be more environmentally aware, UB set foot down the wind path.
"We wanted to make a statement, and we wanted to do the right thing," said Russo. "There's not enough of these wind farms out here, and UB will set an example for the community."
UB will receive the full output of eight giant steel windmills located in Madison and Wyoming counties. According to University Energy Officer Walter Simpson, four percent of UB's energy will be come from the turbines - a number he said he hopes will increase with time.
"It's interesting that we're buying such a significant amount of wind and we are only wind-powered by such a small percent," he said.
Community Energy, Inc. projects that UB's wind power will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 8 million pounds, which will cut down on acid rain and smog.
Russo said UB is also considering its own on-campus windmill, which would most likely be located on the opposite side of the Millersport Highway from the football stadium. Though the windmills cost roughly $1 million apiece, Russo said the environmental benefit makes the investment worthwhile.
"It may take 20 years to get a payback on your investment, but you have to think about what it does," he said. "How do you put a dollar tag on those environmental issues?"
Although Simpson said he is pleased at the progress the university has made, he said he is waiting for students to get interested, and he wants to work with UB Green and other environmental teams to make UB even more environmentally aware.
"The cleanest form of energy is the energy you don't need in the first place," said Simpson. "Even cleaner than wind is conservation, and students can help by conserving energy."
Jim Simon, president of the UB Environmental Network, said he is pleased the school has taken a step in the direction of alternative energy sources.
"It's pretty exciting to set UB aside as environmentally friendly," said Jim Simon. "It's rewarding to see the fruits of our labor."
According to Simon, Environmental Advocates' award might build students' pride, and help recognize their attempts at economizing.
"By recycling, turning off computers and light, it shows that the student body and university is doing a great job," said Simon.
Simon and the rest of the Environmental Network have been working with the UB Green office to try to get 100 percent of the paper used on campus to be recycled. Currently, the UB libraries are the only department to use all recycled paper.
According to Russo, the university is also working toward involvement in the Biomass Project in Dunkirk, N.Y., where a coal-burning plant raises and harvests willow bushes so that they can be dried out, chopped up, and blended with coal. This mix of biomass will burn cleaner, reducing emissions and pollutants in the air. The project will also create more jobs for farmers.
According to Simpson, UB sources of power are moving in the right direction.
"Slowly we'll try to shift electricity we use to greener and cleaner," he said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
