| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.27 |
| Liaison | Mark Klapatch-Mathias |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2024 |
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 2.00 |
Mark
Klapatch-Mathias Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Local advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
UWRF's Sustainability Office 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 the 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 that 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.
Sustainability Proclamation: UWRF, School District of River Falls, City of River Falls, and Chippewa Valley Technical College - Joint Resolution to reaffirm and advance our actions as part of a sustainable community. Resolutions supporting the proclamation were approved by the governing bodies at all organizations. This included all four shared governance groups at UWRF, city council, the school district school board, and the board at CVTC. This proclamation places sustainability as a priority for our community and has been leveraged to introduce additional sustainable actions for our community.
UWRF also has representation on the City of River Falls Tree Advisory Committee and their Bee City committee.
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 the 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 that 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.
Sustainability Proclamation: UWRF, School District of River Falls, City of River Falls, and Chippewa Valley Technical College - Joint Resolution to reaffirm and advance our actions as part of a sustainable community. Resolutions supporting the proclamation were approved by the governing bodies at all organizations. This included all four shared governance groups at UWRF, city council, the school district school board, and the board at CVTC. This proclamation places sustainability as a priority for our community and has been leveraged to introduce additional sustainable actions for our community.
UWRF also has representation on the City of River Falls Tree Advisory Committee and their Bee City committee.
Regional advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
We are bound by political campaign activity rules of the Universities of Wisconsin. However, our institution does have employee legislative liaisons who pass on relevant policies for comment periods. In 2023, we provided comments on LRB – 2936/1 relating to: programs and requirements to address requirements to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. We also provided comments on LRB 4850/1 relating to: an electric vehicle infrastructure program and making an appropriation.
National advocacy
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
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
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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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