Portland State University
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

PSU has advocated and continues to for policies that encourage institutions to enhance their academic programs to include sustainability and to increase sustainability in their operations. University Sustainability Program: PSU was a strong advocate for the University Sustainability Program (USP) authorized in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, formally the Higher Education Sustainability Act authored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer. This program, if funded, supports between 25 and 200 sustainability projects at individual higher education institutions and higher education consortia/associations. Oregon Sustainability Center: PSU also advocated for the Oregon State Legislature to invest in the Oregon Sustainability Center (OSC). The OSC will be located on the edge of the PSU campus in downtown Portland and will bring together academic, government, nonprofit and business sectors to advance the region's innovation in sustainability. It aims to the be the highest performing commercial building in the world and will achieve triple net-zero performance in energy and water use and carbon emissions. Portland's Bicycle Master Plan: PSU was involved as a stakeholder in the recent drafting of the city's Bicycle Master Plan for 2030. PSU submitted a letter of support for BMP before it went to the Portland Planning Commission and the Portland City Council. EcoDistrict: PSU is actively participating in and promoting the EcoDistricts Initiative. The EcoDistricts Initiative brings together community stakeholders, property developers, utilities, and the City of Portland. The campus is part of one of five pilot projects in the City of Portland. For more information, visit http://www.pdxinstitute.org/index.php/ecodistricts. Transportation policy recommendations to Congress by Second Nature task force: As part of the Second Nature task force, a 15 member group of university leaders, President Wim Wiewel of Portland State advocated for federal transportation policy changes in April 2010. "The task force called on Congress to make reducing greenhouse gas emissions a fundamental goal of transportation policy – on a par with mobility and safety.... Noting that our current transportation financing and pricing system is badly broken, the task force urged Congress to adopt carbon-based fees to act as a strong price signal for both the purchase and use of vehicles. Other task force recommendations call for U.S. leadership in vehicle efficiency and clean fuels, expanding transportation options to meet local needs, improving the condition and efficiency of our transportation system, and expanding innovation, research and evaluation." (Source: http://secondnaturebos.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/second-nature-task-force-urges-transportation-policy-overhaul/)