(Posted April 18, 2005)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College has agreed to increase the amount of wind-generated energy it purchases to 10.4 percent of the college's total energy usage as part of a campaign by the Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy and the wind energy company Community Energy Inc.

Juniata agreed to increase its purchases (it previously used 6. 4 percent) as part of a campaign called "Getting to 10 Percent Wind," Juniata is one of 10 colleges and universities to make the commitment to increase its purchases to 10 percent. There are 34 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania purchasing wind energy.

"Juniata has had a long-standing commitment to the environment and we welcome the opportunity to make a leading-edge commitment to wind energy," says Thomas R. Kepple Jr., president of Juniata College. "By using such tools as wind energy and our new Raystown Field Station, which is certified nationally as a 'green' building, our students can see what it means to be responsible environmental stewards."

Juniata will increase its commitment to wind energy by 10 percent. The other colleges and universities who have signed on, and the percentage of their energy coming from wind power include: Eastern University (29 percent), The University of Pennsylvania (11 percent), Allegheny College (10 percent), Chatham College (10 percent), Dickinson College (10 percent), Duquesne University (10 percent), Franklin & Marshall College (10 percent), Keystone College (10 percent), and Mercyhurst College (10 percent).

Compared to the average energy-generation mix in Pennsylvania, Juniata's decision to purchase pollution-free wind power reduces the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to planting nearly 81,570 trees, not driving 1.04 million miles, or taking 164 cars off the road each year.

Donald A. Brown, Director of PCIEP and Senior Counsel for Sustainable Development at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, is thrilled at the response. "By making commitments to wind energy, Pennsylvania colleges and universities are leading through example on important public policy questions. Because the United States urgently needs to move toward greater use of renewable energy not only to reduce the threat of climate change but also to achieve energy independence, Higher-education in Pennsylvania is creating a path for others to follow on a matter of great national importance."

"Pennsylvania's colleges and universities are at the forefront of addressing some of our most pressing environmental issues, so it only makes sense these same institutions would take a leadership role in advancing cleaner technologies," Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "The combined wind-power purchases of these colleges and universities will have a tremendous impact on growing the market for renewable energy resources and increasing the demand for environmentally friendly electricity generation. All of this is part of the new energy industry taking shape in Pennsylvania --- one that will help to ensure fuel price stability, promote domestic employment and economic development, and improve our environment."

Other schools who are purchasing NewWind Energy are Drexel University (8.3 percent), Franklin & Marshall College (7.1 percent), Carnegie Mellon University (6 percent), Gettysburg College (5 percent), and Penn State University (5 percent).


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.