2019 was one tumultuous year. It was the year that COVID-19 hit. The year Boston experienced record heat. It was the year the Amazon burned. Despite these hurdles, UMass Amherst rose to the occasion.
Through persistent efforts of the Massachusetts Public Interest Group (MASSPIRG) Students, the Student Government Association (SGA), and other activist organizations, the administration formed the Carbon Mitigation Taskforce. This was the start of something truly revolutionary.
The Carbon Mitigation Taskforce’s main goal was to formulate a comprehensive, in-depth feasibility study to transition UMass Amhert to 100% renewable energy for heating, cooling, and electricity systems by 2032. Achieving this will be groundbreaking for not only UMass Amherst but also Massachusetts as the university emits 14% of the carbon emissions statewide.
The Carbon Mitigation Taskforce created the CMP Master Planning group, which is the working group currently. The CMP Master Planning group is composed of four committees: facilities/implementation, business development, marketing, and the living lab.
Consulting teams partnering with UMass Amherst includes: MEP Associates, Brailsford & Dunlavey, GreenerU, and Competitive Energy Services. Additionally, there are faculty, staff and students in the CMP as well striving to transition our campus to 100% renewable energy.
The CMP Master Planning group has made significant strides in this endeavor. For example, they will work on conversion to Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW), energy transmission and more sustainable design. Additionally, there has been progress in hiring RMF engineering groups. There has been contact with the business development department doing high level research funding and opportunities of investment in the state and federal level.
The CMP Master planning group’s living lab is on the road to potentially receiving a $300,000 grant for expansion of the Clean Energy Core. The living lab has also been instrumental in launching a pilot carbon literacy training program, the first US higher education institution to do so. They have also created a campus data request form as a means to create a living laboratory for research and discussion on improving sustainability measures on campus.
Although there certainly has been significant progress, more action is a must. To reach carbon neutrality by 2032, we must start the transition now in 2021 through both tangible construction as well as meaningful public dialogue.
While we have an internal, informal commitment to transition UMass Amherst to reach 100% renewable energy by 2032, we have neither made a formal, public announcement nor started building renewable energy-sourced infrastructure.
A formal statement would pave the way for other institutions to follow our example as well as hold the UMass Amherst administration accountable for its promises.
Indeed, finances are crucial to consider. Fortunately, the feasibility study has shown that the break-even point of financial cash flow will happen around 2045 and the savings will continue in the future but only if we invest first in this important cause. Through this investment, UMass Amherst has the potential to leave a legacy of caring about sustainability over bureaucratic interests. In turn, we will be leaders of the commonwealth and higher education.
It goes without saying that the clock will not stop ticking. We are in a climate crisis right now and taking no actionable steps will only hold us back.
Much work has been done by student advocacy groups. However, we will be stronger and more efficient if we get the full support of the administration, especially in regards to making a public statement about reaching carbon neutrality by 2032.
Through a consolidated effort, we will create a more sustainable, livable future. Together, we can mark a revolutionary legacy.
Caroline Sunuwar is a UMass Amherst sophomore undergraduate student who is MASSPIRG’s Break Free From Plastic & 100% Renewable Energy Campaign coordinator and an avid climate activist who believes in student power and for the public interest.