Information on the ETSU "Green Fee" Proposal

by Elana Gulas, president of ICE (Initative for Clean Energy, an ETSU Student Group)

elanagulas@gmail.com

Overview:

A green fee proposal, drafted by ICE (Initiative for Clean Energy, an ETSU Student Group), was revised and then unanimously passed by the SGA (Student Government Association), in March 2008. The proposal is now to be put to the student body for a vote, on April 8 and 9, 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the green fee?

This is a fee that students would pay to benefit the environment on and around campus. This will create the Campus Environmental Stewardship Fund that would encourages and enables faculty, staff, and other donors to help make ETSU an outstanding example of environmental leadership.

How much will this cost me?

According to the SGA, bill this fee will be $5. The amount could, in theory, be raised in the future, by further SGA action, but it will never exceed $10 for full-time students. If you are a part-time student then your fee would be based on the number of hours that you are taking, but will never be over the full-time student amount.

Who will allocate the funds?

Voting yes to the fee will create a student-led committee, which will use the green fee funds to spearhead innovative environmental and "green initiatives" on campus. The committee will consist of:

· Four voting SGA senators, one of which shall be designated as the chair of the committee

· Two voting At large students, appointed by the SGA president

· Two non-voting staff members

· One cabinet member from SGA

Any ETSU student or faculty or staff member will be able to present ideas to this committee. The committee will make decisions on what projects to allot the funds to and how much.

As of this year the following TN Universities and Colleges have a Green Fee program, similar to the one we're proposing for ETSU:

Austin Peay, UT Martin, Middle Tennessee State University, University Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga State, University Tennessee at Knoxville, University Tennessee Memphis, Sewanee, and others.

What types of project could this fee fund?

· Hybrid lighting

· Steam valve controls to turn off the heat in some buildings

· Geothermal energy

· Electric vehicle purchase

· Fluorescent light bulb exchange

· Education

· Electronics recycling

· biodiesel

· wind generators

· solar panels

· green roofs

· retrofitting of buildings

· green cleaning products

I’ve heard that this fee supports the e-green credit purchase, will the ETSU fee support this?

No, the ETSU Green Fee w ill at no point use the fees for the TVA “Green Power Switch Program”

When can I vote for this??

SGA Vote is on April 14 and 15

If you have any further questions please email ice.etsu@gmail.com!