Oberlin Renews Green Energy Agreement

OBERLIN, OHIO—In June of 2004 Oberlin College agreed to pay Oberlin Municipal Light and Power System (OMLPS) an additional $2 per megawatt-hour ($0.002 per kWh) to purchase clean, renewable, carbon-neutral electricity from the local utility. Since that time, the college has purchased more than 36,000,000 kWh of renewable energy and offset more than 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions for the institution as a whole.

Recently, the College renewed its green energy purchase agreement with OMLPS by authorizing continued purchase of energy attributes from the City's environmentally friendly power supply resources through June 1, 2009.

"The College is making a significant step toward meeting its carbon neutrality goal by obtaining almost half of its electricity from carbon-neutral sources and reducing its carbon footprint by up to 12,000 tons per year," says Nathan Engstrom, Oberlin's environmental sustainability coordinator.

"By renewing our green energy purchase agreement with the City of Oberlin, the College is continuing to support the development of environmentally-friendly power supply resources by paying a premium for these energy attributes."

"The City is excited about the renewal of the energy attributes agreement and is proud to offer this opportunity to Oberlin College to help the College meet their environmental and sustainable goals," says OMPLS Director Steve Dupee. "The renewal of this agreement also means that the City's Sustainable Reserve Program will be fully funded and available for local energy initiatives."

Oberlin will pay up to $25,000 per year for the offset. The agreement has enabled the College thus far to contribute more than $72,000 to the City's Sustainable Reserve Program Fund. An ongoing revenue stream overseen by Oberlin City Council, the fund is used to encourage and promote local energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy development.