Regents Approve Student Fee to Help Pay Energy Bills

By Emily Christensen, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Jun. 21–AMES — A $200 surcharge wasn’t the only remedy to growing energy bills at state universities discussed during Tuesday’s Board of Regents meeting at Iowa State University.

It was, however, one of the only measures approved. The regents unanimously approved the $100 per semester energy surcharge, as well as a three-year moratorium on capital funding requests. The surcharge will generate about $10.9 million for the three universities to offset increasing energy costs and maintain competitive faculty salaries.

Student leaders are focusing their efforts on educating students about how energy consumption affects tuition bills. University of Northern Iowa administrators hope to do the same with faculty and staff.

“We have to do our part, too,” said UNI President Benjamin Allen. “A lot of the energy consumption on campus is done by faculty and staff.”

Allen said the university is working to implement more energy saving techniques. Student Body President Grant Erwin said the university has to be open to spending money up front to save money in the future. Energy-saving technology like motion sensor lights in hallways could save power during off-hours, he said.

Erwin and student leaders at the University of Iowa are also working with the residence halls to find ways to reduce energy consumption. Addison Stark, student body vice president at the University of Iowa, hopes to implement an energy-saving competition, similar to one used by other universities, that rewards the residence hall that decreases energy consumption most.

But, such efforts may not be enough to avoid a similar surcharge in coming years. Erwin said regents and students need to be more active lobbying the Legislature.

“We have a new opportunity at the Capitol. … This is a key year. If we don’t change the tide of the Legislature this year we may be facing several years of underfunding.” Erwin said.

Erwin said universities also hope to collaborate to form a parent’s association to lobby key legislators.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1520 or {M7Emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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