Now that University of Texas students have approved the Green Fund, will Texas kick California’s ass in yet ANOTHER area of coolness?

University of Texas students put up their horns for the Green Fund.

Imagine a place that breeds environmentally conscientious scholars. Completely self-sustainable, this eco-school is powered by the wind and sun, embraces the cyclist and demonstrates innovative examples of the future design of communities.

Sounds like some far off utopia, huh?  After Longhorns passed the Green Fund Referendum, this vision may be what is in store for the future of the University of Texas at Austin.

Burnt Orange goes green.

On Tuesday, March 7th, University of Texas students approved the Green fund, voting to add an additional $5 fee to their tuition.  Passing by a whopping 71%, the Green Fund will support environmental efforts on campus. Not only will the initiative be funded by the students, it will also be managed by a committee primarily composed of students.

Since the UT population is just over 70,000, this change will drastically minimize the ecological footprint of the campus.  Michelle Camp, a UT undergraduate and member of ReEnergize Texas, adds, “the fund will allow us to make UT’s historical structures more energy efficient and finance green projects that will ultimately pay for themselves.”

Will Texas universities lead the nation in sustainable campus life?

With nearly $500,000 coming in annually, the future is looking bright for the Eyes of Texas. But Longhorns aren’t the only Texan students who are making the change.  Our good friends at Texas A&M, Texas State University and Rice University have also passed the Green Fund (One project at Texas State recently converted 30 elliptical machines into energy generating power plants.  A 30-minute work out there can power a light bulb for 2 hours!). The other 5 remaining public universities will vote on the fund on Earth Day.  If passed, Texas will have 8 practicing universities, surpassing California and Tennessee, each currently leading with 7.

How can you help?

Get the word out!  Use facebook, twitter, your email, the phone and let anyone and everyone at the remaining 5 universities (UNT, UofH, UTEP, UTPA, UTSA) to get out and vote on Earth Day, April 22, 2010!

I must say, with our efforts in creating over 50,000 megawatts in wind-generating capacity over in West Texas, and now this Green Fund movement, I have never been more proud of my home state. Texas!  Fight!

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