We all know that burning oil, gas, and coal has polluted our air, water, and land for decades – and now it’s changing the climate even faster than scientists feared it would. Elected officials have given up their responsibility to act upon the science, while the fossil fuel companies fueled public misconceptions, climate denialism, and lobbying
Our pollution has historically been located in low income, minority communities, with their children bearing the most severe consequences
We know we can have more equitable right now and a livable future for ourselves and generations to come. But to get there, we must transform the way we produce and consume energy. That’s got to start with a commitment to 100% clean, renewable energy and a commitment to transform how our buildings, transportation, and society is run.
A 100 percent clean energy future means shifting from dirty energy to completely clean energy sources wherever and however we can. Renewable energy is abundant, cost-efficient and growing rapidly. These communities will allow everyone to find their place and will enrich them culturally, socially, and environmentally.
A 100% renewable society means sustainable, renewable, and affordable housing, connected to electric-powered public transportation.
Standing in the way of this progress, of course, are the fossil fuel companies. Time and time again they have demonstrated their ability and willingness to block the shift to clean energy wanted by most Americans. Despite all of their hard work, we’re making progress and we will continue to fight on behalf of the public for a sustainable, future, and a 100% renewable society
100% Renewable Connecticut
We launched our campaign to commit our campuses to 100% Renewable Energy in the Spring of 2016. At UConn, students were able to collect over 4,000 petitions in support of the campaign. We continued to hold public education panels, movie screenings and had over 50 faculty members statewide sign in support of the initiative.
Not only are we advocating for 100% renewable energy commitments on campus, but we are also calling on the state to adopt more clean energy and transition to electric transportation.
In the Spring of 2017, we organized the “CT Go Green Rally” with community partners like Sierra Club, 350 CT, and CHISPA to call on the state to include more renewable energy in our Comprehensive Energy Strategy Plans. In 2018 we helped turnout and inform voters in the town of Mansfield to help pass a Net-Zero Energy School, a model for the rest of the state
There’s a lot more work to be done to transition to a 100% clean energy future and build our societies to consider the interconnecting nature that our fossil fuel dependence has. Together we can create a sustainable and equitable society for all. Our vision is that every campus community across the country is running on 100% renewable energy by 2035 or earlier.