The number of colleges and universities across the country committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a national pledge has more than doubled since OU agreed to do so more than two years ago.

OU President David Boren signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which requires schools to submit attainable plans for reducing emissions within two years of signing, in early 2007. At the time, OU was one of about 280 signatories.

As of Sunday, presidents of 650 colleges and universities had signed the commitment.

Tuesday was the deadline for schools that signed the initiative in 2007 to submit climate action plan reports to the ACUPCC. OU submitted its plan the day before.

Within its sustainability plan, available at the ACUPCC Web site, OU commits to “the attainment of clean air for all people,” “the conservation of physical and financial resources for this generation” and “the ensuring of the abundant availability of resources for the generations to come.”

The university also has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent of its 2008 emission levels by 2050, according to the plan.

“OU has recognized the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to better the quality of life in the areas we live,” stated OU spokesman Jay Doyle, in an e-mail.

Since signing the ACUPCC, OU has taken several steps to reduce its emissions and energy use.

In September 2008, President Boren announced the university’s goal of being powered entirely by wind energy by 2013 through a partnership with Oklahoma Gas & Electric. OG&E will supply OU’s power through a wind farm near Woodward.

OU also was one of the first universities to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, in which entities use a cap and trade system to reduce emissions.

Oklahoma involvement

OU is one of two Oklahoma universities to sign the ACUPCC. The other, the University of Central Oklahoma, committed to the pledge in 2007 when UCO President Roger Webb signed it. Schools that signed before Sept. 15, 2007, are considered charter signatories.

The climate action plan for UCO, which was due Tuesday, was not listed on the ACUPCC Web site where submitted reports were posted and was not available as of Sunday.

UCO became completely powered by wind power in 2006, stated UCO spokeswoman Adrienne Nobles in an e-mail. In 2002, the university entered into a performance contract with Johnson Controls to purchase and install energy-efficient equipment, she said.

“To us, making sustainability a priority is the responsible thing to do for both our environment and for those who invest in an education here at Central,” Nobles said. “Energy efficiency isn’t just a goal here; it’s a growing reality.”

Oklahoma State University has not signed the ACUPCC.

“We are considering our involvement while we determine our carbon footprint and continue our efforts to reduce it,” stated OSU spokesman Gary Shutt in an e-mail.

Shutt said OSU is taking “aggressive action” in increasing conservation and has reduced its energy costs by $7.1 million over two years through its Energy Education program.

OSU has also agreed to purchase wind power as “an alternate energy source” through OG&E and has equipped 21 bus shelters with solar panels to provide power for lighting at night, Shutt said.

OSU can sign the ACUPCC commitment document at any time, if it decides to do so.

OU and UCO have both been asked by the ACUPCC to submit progress reports on their climate action plans by Sept. 15, 2011.