Representatives from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) and Wisconsin Public Service signed a NatureWise� purchase agreement today in which UWSP will purchase an additional $8,000 per year of renewable energy for the main campus.

This renewable energy purchase through UWSP administration will be in addition to previous purchases made by the UWSP Student Government Association, Resident Hall Association and the Residential Living Office. This will increase overall main campus usage to 16.4 percent renewable electrical energy, making UWSP the largest purchaser of renewable energy out of all the UW campuses.

Last September, UWSP was one of four state universities chosen by Governor Jim Doyle for an energy independence project that aims for energy independence through renewable energy sources and aggressive conservation efforts. In addition, UWSP Chancellor Linda Bunnell recently signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to commit UWSP to the pursuit of climate neutrality to avert the impacts of global warming.

"I�m pleased that UWSP is able to take further steps to become energy independent," said Bunnell. "I�m also proud that our students have led this effort. They are truly examples of what it means to be a global citizen in a sustainable world."

"It's exciting to see UW-Stevens Point's growing commitment to sustainability," said Rick Socha, Wisconsin Public Service regional manager.　 "We are delighted to provide additional renewable energy for the campus through our NatureWise program.　Several campus organizations are pitching in to fund the NatureWise purchase, and it's clear that the university has made sustainability a strong priority.　 Public Service has worked with the university on several renewable energy projects over the years, and we're looking forward to expanding our partnership in this important area."

In addition to the renewable energy purchases, UWSP conservation efforts include use of photovoltaic windows and low energy lighting in the Noel Fine Arts Center, energy conservation elements in the Dreyfus University Center remodeling project, several rain gardens across campus, green roofs on the Albertson Learning Resource Center and solar water heating systems for three residence halls and the pool inside the Health Enhancement Center.

The NatureWise program has been in existence since 2002. It supports the generation of electricity from a blend of wind and biomass (gases produced naturally from landfills and farm animal waste) and allows customers to purchase 100-kilowatt-hour blocks of renewable energy each month for an additional one-dollar per block. More information may be found at www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/news/naturewise.aspx.