As part of the 2009 Climate Action Plan, UNC pledged to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2050. This is a noble goal, and I have no doubt that we have the potential to meet it.
Unfortunately, according to campus sustainability leaders, this goal is not realistic at the rate at which we’re proceeding.
While there are a significant amount of changes we can make on campus, there are less direct methods to meeting our goals. One new approach to consider is the purchase of renewable energy credits.
A REC is a package containing “credits” of renewable energy, which anyone can buy no matter what fuel sources they are using or where in proximity to the renewable energy they are. Credits can be bought from renewable energy producers.
The credits are produced by renewable generators, and one credit is equal to 1000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. They ensure renewable fuels are being used and compensate for emissions released elsewhere.
In other words, UNC would fund renewable energy sources, but they would be used somewhere else.
Would this count toward our commitment to renewable energy?
I think so. After all, effects from UNC’s emissions are not confined to our campus. As long as we are increasing renewable energy overall, I think we are working toward our goals.
The cost of a REC varies, depending on the type of energy (solar, wind, etc.), the year it’s purchased and the volume of energy. The money for our first REC would come from the budget of the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee, which is financed by the student sustainability fee.
Per the committee’s plan, the town of Chapel Hill would get involved in this effort as well. Committee co-chairwoman Jenna Koester would like to buy 60,000 megawatts of RECs, with the committee funding $100,000 of the credits and the town purchasing the remainder. The committee is researching the best deal for its budget.
