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The Implementer
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Higher Education Leading on Climate
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Produced by Second Nature
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June 2016
In this issue…
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Leading Schools Help Accelerate Clean Technology
2016 Climate Leadership Awards Finalists
Network Snapshots #2
2017 Summit Details
Congratulations Energy to Lead Winners
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Educational Events
Resources
From the Second Nature Blog
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Meet the Leadership Level Signatories
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Leading Schools Help Accelerate Clean Technology
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New partnership leverages universities as demonstration platforms for startups
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Second Nature, Clean Energy Trust and twelve higher education institutions in the Climate Leadership Network recently announced Campus Cleantech Pilots, a new partnership to leverage existing campus infrastructure to lower the critical “first demonstration” barrier for cleantech startup companies. Through this partnership, facilitated in part by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, colleges and universities across the country will develop and implement a strategy for using existing campus infrastructure to test emerging energy-related technologies while allowing universities to get a first look at innovative technologies they can deploy across their campus. Read More.
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2016 Finalists Announced
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for this year's Climate Leadership Awards
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After another year of outstanding applications, 19 institutions have been selected, and will be considered for the two winning spots. Second Nature offers these awards in partnership with the USGBC's Center for Green Schools. The winners will be recognized as part of the Greenbuild Leadership Awards Program this October in Los Angeles, California. 2016 Finalists
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Network Snapshots #2
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A Diverse Network & International Impact
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The Climate Leadership Network has created tremendous impact and demonstrates that strong leadership makes a difference. For more than 10 years, it has served as a model of climate action both nationally and abroad. This series of graphics shows some of the progress achieved collectively. They will be released two per month until July 2016, and can serve as visual tools when communicating about your Commitment. See the next two in the series.
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2017 Presidential Climate Leadership Summit
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Mark your calendar
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Celebrate, collaborate and accelerate with Second Nature and your Climate Leadership Network peers from February 13-15, 2017, in Tempe, AZ. Join us for the largest national gathering of higher education presidents and chancellors committed to bold climate action. Our 10-year anniversary Summit will feature tours of Arizona State University and other local universities, campus team programming, and shared events with GreenBiz. Details and themes.
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Congratulations Energy to Lead Winners!
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3 Carbon Commitment Signatories Awarded
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NYSERDA announced last May the winning colleges and universities for the $3 million "Energy to Lead Competition", all three of which are Climate Leadership Network institutions. Congratulations to Bard College, University at Buffalo, and SUNY Broome Community College, that will each be awarded $1 million to implement their innovative plans for campus and community-wide clean energy projects. Read the press release.
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RESOURCES
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Solar University Network Page
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The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and Second Nature, together with the Sunshot Initiative and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, are piloting an approach with 9 Universities that leverages the experience of MREA’s national solar technical assistance team through professional development events, the facilitation of campus solar development teams, training, and direct technical assistance. Read more.
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The Business Case for ESG
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The Intentional Endowments Network's "Business Case for ESG" briefing paper was developed to help endowment stakeholders understand what ESG investing is, how ESG investing and analysis can be approached, and how ESG investing strategies perform financially. This briefing paper was developed by and in consultation with members of IEN's ESG Business Case Working Group. Download.
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New England Regional Leadership Page
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Second Nature is expanding climate action in New England with the support of the John Merck Fund. Through this initiative, Second Nature is highlighting regional climate leadership and providing targeted support for colleges and universities in New England to achieve their goals of climate resilience and campus carbon neutrality. Read more.
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Webinar: How Colleges and Universities Can Help Accelerate Community Deployment of Solar
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Jun 15, 2016 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
Leading higher education institutions are looking beyond their campuses to explore ways of inciting the deployment and adoption of renewable energy. This webinar from the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership will feature two case studies from the University of Utah and St. Olaf College that examine how colleges and universities can engage with the surrounding community to accelerate solar deployment. Register.
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Second Round of Solar Implementation Assistance Applications
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In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, NREL is offering no-cost technical assistance to universities seeking to go solar. A second round of no-cost targeted implementation assistance in now open. Implementation assistance will be defined by the university and can cover topics such as financing a solar project, procuring solar through a power purchase agreement (PPA), developing a collaborative procurement with other institutions, or working with community solar gardens. Applications are due June 24, 2016. Please note, this application period is for Solar Photovoltaic Implementation Assistance, not for Solar Photovoltaic Screenings using NREL's REopt model. Apply.
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GRITS 1.5
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The Sustainable Endowments Institute recently announced the new and improved Green Revolving Investment Tracking System. In this May 2016 update, GRITS 1.5 improves the ability for users to add more customization and access more data than ever before. Read more.
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FROM THE SECOND NATURE BLOG
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New Board Members for Second Nature
by Gabriela Boscio, Second Nature
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Second Nature owes much of its success to its committed Board of Directors. In the last year, we have been fortunate to welcome some new members to our Board. All the board members bring different experience and skills to Second Nature.
In May 2015, Second Nature welcomed Laurie Fowler to the board. Laurie is an environmental attorney, and the Associate Dean for Administrative and Strategic Affairs at the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology. She is also the director for policy of the River Basin Center.
Starting in May 2015 as well, Portland State University President Wim Wiewel started serving in an ex officio role on the board, as the Chair of the Climate Leadership Network Steering Committee... Read more.
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Meet the Leadership Level Signatories
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Leadership Level dues are used to further the reach of the Climate Leadership Commitments, through pilot programs and new resources. Thanks to these institutions, the Climate Leadership Network is stronger and continues to flourish. See the full list of the Leadership Level Signatories.
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