Carbon Commitment Committee

Voting members present: Jennifer Alix-Garcia, Lindsay Andrews, Lety Cavazos, Tess Collins, Ed Dever, Laurie Houston, Keith Jayawickrama, Cinnamon Moffett, Jacob Putney, Shelly Signs, Brandon Trelstad, Desiree Tullos, Beth Filar Williams
Voting members absent: Randal Smith, Laurel Kincl, Leela Magdaleno, Jason Weis, Bailie Shultz
Ex-officio members present: OSU Foundation – Scott Elmshaeuser
Guests present: Saila Miller

Welcome

Approve February 1, 2022 Minutes

• The February 1 minutes were approved.

Working Group Reports

• Communications  
• Conservation, Efficiency and Transportation  
• Education and Curriculum
  • Energy Policy write-up has been released. Already have one request for exception, which seemed a legitimate request given the tasks and situation of that particular unit.

Status Check on “Path to Carbon Neutrality” Document – Lety Cavazos, Brandon Trelstad

• Mostly good news. In wordsmithing phase between Brandon and Steve Clark. Hope to go to President this week or next for signature. There is a Capital Projects “town hall” on “Sustainability at OSU” Tuesday, May 10 from 2:00-3:00 PM.
• This webinar will provide an overview of sustainability upgrades made to buildings during renovations and on new building projects at the Corvallis and Bend campuses; an update on OSU’s Path to Carbon Neutrality; information about OSU’s sustainable transportation strategy; and a brief overview of the capital projects funding model. Register at: https://beav.es/waq
• Leadership is targeting having the “Path” finalized before that. The 9 actions are intact, doubled the funding in various areas compared to version 1 (existing building efficiency, item 2, solar). Deemphasis on carbon offsets. Have not heard from Pacific Corp for a while about building renewable electricity capacity.

Earth Week Activities and Plans – Lindsay Andrews

• April 22 10-11:30; Hallie Ford 115 or Zoom: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94875278244?pwd=SFdCZU85SzVvR09KNkEwZm1nMTdmUT09
  Password: EarthWeek
• Currently 5 speakers signed up
• Agenda
• Partnering with Sustainability Office for promotion during Earth Week tabling
• Where we need help:
  • Securing more speakers, would like 8-10
  • Promotion to your colleges and colleagues
  • Requests for instructors to provide extra credit
  • Presence at the event
  • Assistance with setup and monitoring Zoom
    • A couple of C3 members may not have received the calendar invite.
    • Would like to have 8-10 speakers. Deadline for speakers to agree is April 8. Speakers confirmed so far:

• Dominic Batchelet
• Perry Hystad
• Ed Dever
• Jennifer Alix-Garcia
• Annie Hommel
  • • Topics addressed: Climate justice, avoided deforestation, CO2 in the coastal ocean off Oregon, food and climate change, natural climate solutions, newly developed courses at OSU.
    • College of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) is also running a separate event on climate change that week. We understood that it would have a more science\research emphasis than the lighting talks. Suggested that the planning group try to limit overlap and repetition between the two sessions.
    • Shelly can help with suggestions on running a Zoom webinar, and publicity.
    • “Lightning talks” planning group will meet again next week.
    • Sustainability Office will have a table on Tuesday, April 19 and will promote carbon reduction initiatives.
    • Suggestions – a couple of talks around concrete policies such as the State of Oregon’s Climate Plan. David Bernell and Hillary Boudet were mentioned as potential speakers.

Washington Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC) Conference Report   

• Was held in early March. OSU had the second highest representation of any university in Oregon or Washington. Recorded content is posted. Access to recorded content is $20. OSU is hosting WOHESC in 2023 – Beth and Shelly may support the organizing effort. March 6-8 2023.

Question

• Has anyone initiated conversations with units (Colleges, Departments etc.) on carbon emission reduction?
  • Desiree, Ed Dever, Lindsay, would like to work on this. Strategic planning could look very different at different units, for carbon reduction the decisions have to be at high level. Suggested that C3 come up with talking points that people could take to their units.
  • Keith was invited by the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society to share information on OSU’s Carbon Reduction efforts at a Departmental coffee on May 18. Shelly and Brandon agreed to participate.

Nominations for Chair\Co-Chairs for FY 2023

• Shelly and Keith are willing to step down to make way for a new Chair\Co-Chairs. Be thinking of people to run as chair for the next year, or self-nominations. There was also a question on how to renew committee membership, if the member’s term ends in 2022. We are expecting guidance on the Chair election and member renewal from the Faculty Senate Office shortly.

Meeting with Executive Committee Liaison

• Met with Justin Fleming.

Outreach to Incoming Students about OSU Carbon Neutrality during Welcome Week September 2022 – Shelly Signs

• Shelly talked with Morgan, the person leading with START (through summer) and Welcome Week (just before classes start). Morgan encouraged us to table at the Welcome Week. Sustainability Office also has a presence at those events, it would be great to coordinate. It was suggested that having presences by 1. The Sustainability Office 2. C3 as representatives of the faculty and 3. Student organizations would show a broad commitment to sustainability and climate action. Shelly suggests that we (1) support the tabling at Beyond Earth Day (2) keep the time open. Ed – Faculty Senate, C3 committee, may not be very eye-catching to an incoming student. There was some enthusiasm about this proposal.

Any Other Business

• Each year the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) receives Building Use Credits (BUC) which are funds generated from Facilities and Administration (F&A)/Indirect Cost recoveries on sponsored grants and contracts. Units submit proposals to invest this fund in research infrastructure. Jen reached out to the CAS Deans to try to encourage coordination of this competition with the Sustainability Office. These discussions are ongoing.
• Different Colleges handle returned overhead differently. The Conservation, Efficiency and Transportation workgroup had also thought of returned overhead as a possible source of funds to buy new, efficient, fridges and freezers.
• First large roof-mounted array has been added, 360KW on Campus Operations, getting it fully operational is unfortunately held up by lack of supply of some parts (which might make us lose out on some of the high solar radiation season which is getting underway). This is much larger than the previous roof-mounted arrays at OSU.
• Finalizing a contract with Oregon Clean Power Coo-op to install solar. Beth Ray center is the first project.
• Hoping to build a few solar systems this summer. Student Affairs wants to put a system on Cezar Chavez Cultural Center (CCCC), close to Beth Ray. ASOSU also wants to support some solar system, and putting something on CCCC might fit within their permitted scope. This may be all that is done in 2022
• Valley Library is waiting to re-roof in 2023 before their solar install. Planning to put solar panels on some Athletics facilities.
• Currently hiring candidates for the control shop. One of the hires may start the next month. Will be the first person dealing specifically on energy efficiency. This is a big step forward.
• Jacob Putney and Tess Collins are working on the C3 2022 annual report. They ask that the work group updates be sent to Jacob or Tess by May 31. As a basis of comparison, the 2021 report is available at: https://oregonstate.app.box.com/s/jadv70masiw0tiziavk5f2pp4zfpd3qi

Next Meeting

• June 7, 1:00-2:30 PM, same location (Willamette Room East, 3^rd floor, Valley Library)

Adjourn

• Meeting adjourned at 2:33 PM