BPU names Rowan Clean Energy School of the Year

October 03, 2007

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Office of Clean Energy has selected Rowan University as the New Jersey Clean Energy School of the Year, recognizing the institution for its efforts related to promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, including purchasing 25 percent of its electricity from wind power sources.

"This is an important award for the Rowan University community," said Dr. Donald Farish, president. "It affirms the work we are doing in this area. More importantly it reflects Rowan's efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and to be good stewards of our land and resources. As a public university, it's important that Rowan is a leader in such endeavors."

The BPU presented the award on September 28 at the New Jersey Clean Energy Leadership Awards luncheon, part of the New Jersey Clean Energy Conference, in New Brunswick.

The BPU award is the latest in numerous accolades Rowan has received for its environmental efforts. This year alone, the school received the United States Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Quality Award for placing third nationally in waste minimization in RecycleMania in 2006, the EPA Green Power Partnership Award for purchasing 25 percent of the electricity Rowan uses from wind-generated sources and the New Jersey Clean Energy Award for the clean energy the institution purchases.

Rowan was the first signer in New Jersey of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, which committed the campus to developing a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. Rowan also is active in promoting solar power and has participated in many other energy-related initiatives. The University was an early client of Community Energy Inc., which obtains part of its power from the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm in Atlantic City.

"Through the numerous sustainability measures we are implementing, Rowan University has become a leader in demonstrating the benefits of protecting our environment and the potential those efforts have in cost savings," said John Imperatore, PE, Rowan's director of Facilities, Resource Management.

For more information on Rowan University's comprehensive environmental efforts, go to www.rowan.edu/rugreen.

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