Archive: Around Town

Aurora, NY - Wells College was recently named by a leading environmental publication as one of America's top colleges for renewable energy, which listed the College among approximately 40 colleges and universities that obtain 100 percent or more of their electricity from renewable sources.

A report released last month by Environment America, "America's Top Colleges for Renewable Energy 2020: Who Is Leading the Transition to 100% Renewable Energy on Campus?" catalogs the efforts of 127 colleges and universities that reported data through the Green Power Partnership program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Wells College has been an EPA Green Power Partner for several years, notable for obtaining all of its electricity from renewable sources.

Based upon data Wells shared with the EPA earlier this year about its annual purchase of wind-based electricity, Wells was cited among around 20 institutions that purchase 100 percent so-called "green power" — a group includes mostly much larger schools like Colgate University, Columbia University, University of New Hampshire and the University at Buffalo. Overall, the college was tied at #23 among the entire list of 127 institutions.

"The credit for this impressive achievement really belongs to Brian Brown, the College's director of facilities and services, for his foresight and sharp negotiating skills that locked in favorable long-term energy utility contracts — agreements which convey 100% renewable energy credits at no additional cost," said Marian Brown, director of the Wells College Center for Sustainability and the Environment.

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