Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.21
Liaison Mark Klapatch-Mathias
Submission Date June 30, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.67 / 2.00 Mark Klapatch-Mathias
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
UWRF's Office of Sustainability has a seat on the committees listed below, and thus has or is having a direct impact on the decisions listed.
POWERFUL CHOICES:
-Powerful Choices has been instrumental in pushing the City of River Falls toward two prestigious designations - an EPA Green Community designation, and a Wisconsin "Energy Independent Community" designation.
-Powerful Choices pushed forward a River Falls approved "NEV Ordinance" allowing use of NEVs on nearly all city streets, including those adjacent to UWRF.
-Powerful Choices developed a River Falls approved property tax financed renewable energy program which leverages the city's bonding rate for providing homeowners low-interest loans to install renewables which are paid-back through annual property tax payments.
-Powerful Choices has developed a grant program which allows residents to apply for grant funding for conservation and/or renewable energy funds up-to $5,000.
-Powerful Choices developed a proposal in 2014 for the River Falls community which resulted in a Solar Garden award from WPPI, only one of two awarded throughout the member network.

JOINT ECO-MUNICIPALITY RESOLUTION: UWRF, RIVER FALLS SCHOOLS, CITY OF RIVER FALLS:
Joint Resolution for Sustainable Community Development and Declaration of Eco-Municipality has been co-signed by the City of River Falls, UWRF Campus, and River Falls School District.

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
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National advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
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International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
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Optional Fields 

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
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None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.