Princeton University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

On a local level, the university’s commitment to a walkable, bikeable campus is reflected in its efforts to design and implement innovative capital projects. Working with municipal government officials, planning board volunteers, and municipal staff these projects have been approved and endorsed by the appropriate local agencies and serve as examples of sustainable design and construction. The University’s recently released campus plan reflects an on-going commitment to energy sustainability and to a walkable, bikeable region as it includes connections to local and regional bike networks and seeks to complete ‘missing links’ in the regional system that will allow cyclists to connect to public transportation, jobs, recreational sites and more. This planning effort has been coordinated with the NJ Department of Transportation, Mercer County, the towns of Princeton, West Windsor and Plainsboro, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Council. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is a world-class fusion energy research laboratory dedicated to developing the scientific and technological knowledge base for fusion energy as a safe, economical and environmentally attractive energy source for the world’s long-term energy requirements. Princeton University manages PPPL, which is part of the national laboratory system funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Office of Science. The university advocates for long term funding for sustainable energy research, including fusion research. In addition, PPPL engages in a number of outreach efforts each year in an effort to inform the public about renewable energy issues and to encourage high school and college students to pursue educational and professional interests in energy research. These efforts include conferences designed to encourage young girls to pursue education and careers in science and sustainability, collaboration with K-12 teachers on how to improve teaching of science and sustainability, and exhibits at local, regional and national events designed to explain the principles of fusion and sustainable energy.

On the state level, Princeton University tracks legislation pertaining to renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, and land use initiatives intended to promote sustainability. The university’s most active participation is in the areas of renewable energy and water conservation. The University is actively working with the NJ Department of Transportation to include “complete streets” aspects to its regional projects including the provision, through campus land, of bicycle connections to municipal, county and regional bike networks, mass transit, jobsites, recreational areas, etc. The University also entered into a partnership with NJ Transit whereby the University provides free bus passes to employees living along the NJ Transit network in an effort to increase the use of mass transportation and reduce single occupancy vehicles coming to campus. NJ Transit has agreed to make modest modifications to select routes in order to increase ridership. Princeton University has hosted members of the state’s Board of Public Utilities and delegations from around the state and the nation at our cogeneration plan. As one of the most sophisticated district energy plants in the country, Princeton’s staff has shared information, training, and advice with public officials and private sector managers of cogeneration and district energy facilities. The university has advocated for state policies that would support the efficient development and use of these facilities, including supporting legislation that permits cogenerated power to be distributed more broadly across the access network. Princeton faculty and graduate students have worked with Commissioners and staff of the NJ Board of Public Utilities on solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) pricing in an effort to remove the price volatility in the state’s SREC market in order to enhance the likelihood of long-term investment. As a large water user, Princeton has engaged with stakeholders on public policy measures designed to encourage conservation and efficient use of water. The university has actively engaged in its own water conservation program as well as innovative and aggressive water re-use efforts and storm water management.

Princeton University's Engineering and Campus Energy department cofounded the Microgrid Resources Coalition (http://www.microgridresources.com/about-microgrids97/what-is-a-microgrid) and are very active on the organization's board. It’s set up to engage with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, https://www.ferc.gov/) as well as regional and state regulators to promote fair access to the power grid and fair compensation for behind-the-meter power generators.

In January 2017, a delegation of Princeton faculty members — led by President Christopher L. Eisgruber and including the University’s 2015 and 2016 Nobel laureates —took part in and led discussions on major global issues, including climate change, at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

As a not-for-profit educational institution organized under section 501(c)3 of the IRS tax code, the university is precluded from taking political positions or making political donations. However, members of the Princeton University faculty and staff actively contribute to public policy debates and to the development of sound environmental policies and the implementation of effective sustainability initiatives on the state and federal levels.

As a not-for-profit educational institution organized under section 501(c)3 of the IRS tax code, the university is precluded from taking political positions or making political donations. However, members of the Princeton University faculty and staff actively contribute to public policy debates and to the development of sound environmental policies and the implementation of effective sustainability initiatives on the state and federal levels.