University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
PA-9: Sustainable Investment

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s commitment to sustainability extends to university-related investments made by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation (UWOF). Since 2010, UWOF has invested more than $10 million in three sustainability-related projects. The first effort involves a $3.7 million investment matched with $1.3 million in grants for a total project cost about $5 million to construct the first commercial scale dry fermentation anaerobic biodigester in the Americas. This facility converts food, yard and other organic waste into biogas, which is burned to generate electricity. The feed-stock includes most of the food waste from UW Oshkosh (500 tons per year), food waste from area grocery stores and many suppliers from off campus. The plant presently processes some 10,000 tons of organic wastes annually and generates the equivalent of nearly 8% equivalent of campus electricity needs. If operated at full capacity the 320 kW turbine would generate about 2.8 million kW hours of electricity annually, or the equivalent of 13% percent of campus electricity needs at present levels of demand. An additional amount of heat energy will soon heat the Facility Services building at UW Oshkosh. The digestate is being processed into high quality organic compost and is currently being sold to the community. The value of the second investment stands at $7 million. This investment was used to construct a wet anaerobic digester on Wisconsin’s largest dairy farm in Rosendale. The facility began operating in December 2013. It will process 110,000 tons of manure from more than 8,000 cows to generate 12.3 million kW hours of electricity annually from a 1.4 megawatt turbine. Waste heat is now warming barns on the farm. The digestate from this facility will be processed into a high quality compost soil amendment. Carbon credits will be offered in the near future. The third investment was made as a community redevelopment project in a blighted part of Oshkosh. Specifically, UWOF has invested more than $1.1 million dollars as a partner in a $16.7 million hotel renovation project that is centrally located along the city’s downtown riverfront redevelopment initiative. The hotel has been open for few years now and already has a significant and visible presence along Oshkosh’s Riverwalk. UWO and UWOF believe that a healthy downtown is important for maintaining a vibrant, sustainable community, and that universities should play a prominent role in their development and maintenance.

UW Oshkosh and the UWO Foundation follow practices consistent with the University’s broader sustainability commitment including the Earth Charter and Second Nature Climate Commitment. http://www.uwosh.edu/sustainability/what-we-do/campus-sustainability-plan/administration

UW Oshkosh representatives regularly advocate for better policy with elected officials and agencies.