Bush Signs New Law to Fund the Sustainability Movement in Higher Education

WE DID IT! Yesterday, President Bush signed into law all provisions of the Higher Education Sustainability Act (HESA) as part of the new Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HR 4137). HR 4137 creates a pioneering “University Sustainability Grants Program” at the Department of Education. It will offer competitive grants to institutions and associations of higher education to develop, implement and evaluate sustainability curricula, practices, and academic programs.

This is the first new federal environmental education grant-making program authorized in 18 years. Endorsed by over 220 colleges and universities, higher education associations, NGOs and corporations, this grant program will provide the catalyst for colleges and universities to develop and implement more programs and practices around the principles of sustainability. The bill also directs the Department of Education to convene a national summit of higher education sustainability experts, federal agency staff, and business leaders to identify best practices and opportunities for collaboration in sustainability.

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the original Senate sponsor of HESA, explained: "Colleges are a natural breeding ground for the kind of innovation we need to move to new, environmentally-friendly energy sources. Our young people know the stakes. They know that developing sustainable energy programs will affect their lives, their economic well-being, and the planet they are inheriting. These grants will help college students take the reins of the movement to make energy last longer and have less of an impact on our environment."

“As the world’s population increases, so does our impact on the environment, which makes it more vital than ever to invest in training the next generation of scientists, engineers, planners and business professionals,” said Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), one of the three original sponsors of HESA in the House of Representatives. “By providing grants to universities and institutions to develop sustainability programs, we can protect the planet while helping maintain America’s economic competitiveness.”

Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), another original House co-sponsor, added: "What better way to promote sustainability than to encourage our institutions of higher learning to create academic programs to teach its concepts, and to implement sustainable practices themselves. Society will reap the benefits of the excellent return on investment gained by educating students in sustainable practices."

As we begin to connect the dots among our nation’s many challenges in energy, national security, sustainable economic development, environmental protection, and social justice, it is imperative that our schools incorporate this fundamental perspective in their teaching and practice.  Higher education is embarking upon a major and highly ambitious transition to accomplish this, and we gratefully applaud Congress for recognizing the need to help.

Jim Elder, Director

Comments

[Carlos Rymer]

This is great. So many students on college and university campuses have so many great ideas pertaining to improving campus sustainability and innovating to create methods, technologies, etc. that can benefit the rest of the world. The passage of this bill is a significant step forward in fully taking advantage of what can come out of students on campuses.

[Green Sustainability Advocate]

Thank you for sharing this; it is great news that was not covered when I heard about Bush signing HR4137. Let's hope that schools really take advantage of it and demonstrate their ability to go green.

[Jim Elder]

Yes, it's a big step forward. Now we need to get to work on securing funding for the new program as part of next year's budget appropriation process.

[Branden Macie]

As a college student heading a student organization devoted to increasing campus sufficiency, it is encouraging to know that all the hard work our campus needs has a real sustainable future. The burden of start-up capital has haunted our campus's progress. The most inspiring piece of this work is that campus energy efficiency has a direct correlation with the devastating injustices faced in local and national cmmunities. This couldn't be more exciting of a time to live!! I believe a socially just future will permeate through this environmental trend; a foundation of a collective, unified world!

[Richard]

Please keep us posted on the regulatory process to implement this legislation. Thank you for all your dedicated efforts.

[Jim Elder]

Absolutely. The next step is to ask Congress to appropriate funds for the program - and since the new higher education act has something like 60 new programs in it, we have some stiff competition (not to mention a dismal federal fiscal landscape). But the University Sustaianbaility Program received a good deal of bipartisan support as it went through the approval process, so we're optimistic and have begun efforts to get some funds in the next budget that we can(probably FY2010). Once funded, the Department of Education will then design the details of the grantmaking program and issue an RFP. And we'lll keep you abreast of each step along the way.

Jim

[buy eve isk]

As a college student heading a student organization devoted to increasing campus sufficiency, it is encouraging to know that all the hard work our campus needs has a real sustainable future. The burden of start-up capital has haunted our campus's progress. The most inspiring piece of this work is that campus energy efficiency has a direct correlation with the devastating injustices faced in local and national cmmunities. This couldn't be more exciting of a time to live!! I believe a socially just future will permeate through this environmental trend; a foundation of a collective, unified world!