University of California President Janet Napolitano today (May 12) addressed the Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy Conference in Irvine, Calif., speaking about UC’s commitment to carbon neutrality, renewable energy and sustainability.
In conversation with California Energy Commissioner David Hochschild, Napolitano discussed UC’s commitment to reach operational carbon neutrality by 2025. UC has made significant progress toward achieving this target, hitting a 2014 goal of generating 10 megawatts of on-campus renewable energy two years early. With projects over the past year, UC has now quadrupled the original goal, reaching more than 40 megawatts of renewable energy capacity.
Napolitano also highlighted UC’s purchase of 80 megawatts of solar energy from two solar farms in Fresno County, the largest such purchase by any American university.
“Investment in new clean energy technologies creates jobs and benefits local communities,” Napolitano said. “I am excited about the leadership role that the University of California is playing in accelerating the transition to renewable energy.”
Napolitano also touched on work being done by UC Irvine to advance its commitment to operational sustainability goals. UC Irvine recently became the first college campus in the nation to convert its shuttle buses to an all-electric fleet.
The conference, organized by the Renewables 100 Policy Institute, brought together leading experts to address the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to full renewable energy across sectors.
Video of Napolitano’s remarks will be posted on the Renewables 100 Policy Institute website: http://www.renewables100.org/en/pathways-2017/.
For more information about UC’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative and other UC sustainability initiatives and programs, visit http://ucop.edu/sustainability/.