Penn has become one of the cleanest, most self-sustained universities in the country -- and all it took was a little wind.
Yesterday afternoon, a number of students and faculty members came to College Green to hear Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate Omar Blaik announce the University's plan to double its purchase of wind-generated power, bringing the quota up to 10 percent.
Under a 10-year contract, the University will buy 40 million kilowatt hours annually from Community Energy, Inc. of Wayne, Pa.
"Penn is an investor in the future of wind-generated power," Blaik said following the announcement.
He also added that the University is now the largest purchaser of this type of energy in the country, and that it intends to take its new role seriously. Its goal will be to become a model for its peer institutions, promoting "green" practices wherever possible.
The project began to take form in summer 2001 when the University decided that 5 percent of its energy was going to come from wind farms.
"Facilities has made tremendous movements to make Penn self-sustainable," said College and Engineering senior Sharon Hsu, former president of the Penn Environmental Group.
She added that, in conjunction with the Penn Environmental Group, Facilities was having a profound impact on reducing "Penn's footprints on the environment."
According to Blaik, Penn is Philadelphia's largest employer, and, as such, it has placed a "tremendous electrical demand" on its supplier -- PECO Energy -- until now.
With wind power, the University will now be able to use a clean source for at least part of its needs -- all while continuing to use PECO's channels for distribution.
But University officials were not the only ones thrilled by the possibilities this new power source can offer -- and the role Penn will play.
"They are raising the bar, taking a leadership role," Community Energy Sales Director John Halley said.
Community Energy was initially contacted by the Penn Environmental Group and later presented a detailed plan to the University.
Students present on College Green yesterday said they were satisfied with the University's decision, especially when environmental concerns were taken into account.
In fact, according to Earth Week chairwoman Rachel Gross, a College sophomore, "The world needs to move away from fossil fuels because they're disappearing -- wind doesn't disappear."
