'Sustainability,' Farms Major Themes At University, Chancellor Says
Last updated Monday, July 21, 2008 8:52 PM CDT in News
By Doug Thompson
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas expects to pay almost $1 million more for fuel, electricity and other energy in the next fiscal year compared with last year, chancellor David Gearhart said Monday.
That's part of the reason Gearhart made what he acknowledged as his strongest remarks in public about "sustainability" during the 60th annual Officers and Leaders Conference of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. The federation is the largest voluntary association of rural residents in the state. About 400 attendees heard Gearhart's speech at the Springdale Holiday Inn and Convention Center.
"The university is going to be central to increasing the state's sustainability across the board," Gearhart told the conference. "We have a crucial role to play. We're going to do everything in our power to use renewable energy sources as they become viable. We're going to practice what we preach." Leading the state into more sustainable practices is "vital to our economic interest and is a vital environmental necessity," he said.
Gearhart mentioned the $1 million figure in an interview after his speech. Mike Johnson, the associate vice chancellor for facilities management, confirmed that the projected increase in the university's $13 million billion bill for water, fuel, electricity, sewer service and natural gas for steam heating in buildings is $937,500.
High energy costs will "force our hand" on conservation and alternatives, Gearhart said.
"Part of the reason we want to do this is to show the people of Arkansas that we're good stewards of their money," Gearhart said of plans to switch to alternatives when possible, such as wind power in the Boston Mountains.
Wal-Mart is both a leading example of energy conservation in business and a generous contributor to the university's effort to improve the technology of conservation and alternative energy sources, Gearhart said. They have shown that effort to use energy wisely makes economic sense and now are leaders in the field, he said.
The chancellor also praised the school of agriculture in his remarks, saying it's one of the fastest growing schools in the university. A large part of that is because of endowments and scholarships set up by members of the federation, he said. He also praised the deans and teachers of the agriculture department.
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greenblogger wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:12 PM: