Campus Renewable Energy Research Centers Abound!
Last week I mentioned the threat that is coming from some lobbyists in Washington seeking to weaken the definition of renewable energy in anticipation of federal laws mandating renewable energy standards. Luckily, there are dozens of campuses across the US engaged in renewable energy research of the type that will help lead us to a just and sustainable energy future that is not reliant on fossil fuels.
A new resource AASHE released in this week's Bulletin is a listing of Campus Renewable Energy Research Centers (must login and be an AASHE member). It reminded me of a question I asked in a previous article, "Are American Colleges Living Labs for Renewable-Energy Use?" in which I wrote of the concern that campuses may not be doing enough to support the development of renewable energy and live up to the concept of being a 'living-lab'.
Although I still do not feel that the use of renewable energy on campuses is as strong as it should be, it is clear from our new resource that there is much positive research occurring.
Some of the growth in research funding available has recently come from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, which has pledged to invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) over the next five years. Out of 46 new Centers, 31 will be located at Universities.
Here's to the continued development and refinement of renewable energy technologies that will help transition us to a clean energy society!
(If your campus has a renewable energy research center that is not captured in our resource list, please email resources@aashe.org)
