Environmental activists are giving Bowling Green State University seven years
to clean up its act.Holding cardboard versions of wind turbines and solar panels, students rallied outside
BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey’s office Thursday. Next week, they hope to take their concerns inside and
meet directly with Mazey.The BGSU Environmental Action Group is asking BGSU to create and implement a plan
to transition to 100 percent clean energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal by 2020."We need action
now," Josh Chamberland, president of the group, shouted to ralliers. "We are building a movement
here at BGSU."But the movement has already started, according to Dave Kielmeyer, BGSU spokesman, who
said the university has signed onto a climate control commitment which shares many of the goals sought by
the student group."BGSU has made a commitment to reducing our carbon footprint," he said.Last
October, Mazey signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment along with
many universities across the nation. The agreement commits BGSU to becoming "carbon neutral" by a
date that has not yet been determined."The goals are extremely similar," said Nick Hennessey, BGSU
sustainability coordinator.The university has three years to come up with a plan for carbon neutrality.
"We are currently in the process of figuring out what’s going to be in our plan," Hennessey
said.While that may not mean the 100 percent use of clean energy, it will seek a balance.And while BGSU may
not meet the students’ demand for clean energy by 2020, Hennessey said the university is making
progress."I think quite a bit can be achieved by then," he said.The movement toward clean energy
has already been a focus at other universities, according to Dr. Neocles Leontis, BGSU chemistry
professor.

Miami University, Ohio
State University and Ball State University are already working on geothermal projects to power their
facilities, he said."Unless we attack the heating and cooling on our campus, we’re only making
incremental changes," he said.Leontis suggested to ralliers that they use the BGSU student
environmental fund to pay for a geothermal study on campus."You have the power to take the first step
in geothermal," he said. "We need to do the study and find out if it’s doable. It’s in your power
to do it. Go for it."Though the rally was attended by approximately 40 people, the clean energy cause
does have a bigger following on campus. According to Amber Perdue, of the Environmental Action Group, more
than 2,000 students have signed a petition asking for a conversion to clean energy.Madison Thomas, a junior
majoring in environmental science, said BGSU should not delay going more green."Climate change is
happening right in front of us," she said. Meanwhile, BGSU buys its electricity from Bowling Green,
which recently invested through AMP cooperative in a coal-fired power plant."Is that really what we
want our university to invest in," Thomas asked.The solution is renewable wind, solar and geothermal
energy, she said. "This seems like a no-brainer to me."But Hennessey said BGSU has little control
over where its electricity is generated."There’s not a lot of leeway where the power comes from,"
he said, adding that the city of Bowling Green is taking several steps to expand its power from green
energy.BGSU is also looking at other ways to reduce its carbon footprint. The short-term goals of the energy
agreement signed by Mazey call for the university to reduce waste immediately by examining how to recycle
more and use landfills less. All new buildings will qualify for energy and environmental design rankings.
New appliances must have energy star ratings. And expansion of BGSU bus transportation will be
studied."All of these are aimed at reducing emissions," Hennessey said.Hennessey said he realizes
the student environmental group is asking for more use of clean energy."We’re going to examine all of
those possible sources of energy for BGSU," he said.But paying for the transition has to be a part of
the equation."We have to constantly be on the lookout for how we finance these things," Hennessey
said.BGSU has also adopted these environmentally friendly programs:• Green fee (optional) that students pay
to support green initiatives• Project Tiger requiring computer labs to use 100 percent recycled paper• Print
Responsibly effort encouraging two sided printing, and less printing• Orange Bike program for sharing
bicycles• Participating in "recyclemania" competition with other colleges and universities.