PSU Students Vote For A Green Fee

By Shawn O'bryant
PSU

Portland State University students passed a referendum this week that creates a $5 per student "green fee" per term.

PSU plans to use money raised by the fee, which was approved by 72 percent of students who voted, as follows:

—Subsidizing three-month TriMet flex passes for students. PSU hopes to eventually require all students to have a bus pass.

—Creating a special sustainability projects fund overseen by students that encourages small scale sustainable capital projects. Projects already include bike parking stations, new bikes for a bike loan program and water bottle refilling stations.

—Creating a revolving loan fund to support projects such as installing highly efficient light bulbs and water conservation. Organizers hope the fund will be self-perpetuating with money earned through savings re-invested in other projects.

—Hiring a full-time conservation and renewable energy manager at PSU.

More than 60 universities nationwide have enacted a similar green fee.

WWeek 2015

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