Pictured Above: Jona Skendaj is vice president of USF’s PIRG and co-authored the 100 percent renewable energy resolution.
Courtesy of Jona Skendaj
By Sophie Ojdanic
The USF Student Government Senate met on March 23 and unanimously passed a resolution calling for President Steve Currall to commit the university to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The resolution, presented by Florida Public Interest Research Group, urges “President Currall to take visionary action on climate change and our reliance on fossil fuels by committing the University of South Florida to 100 percent Renewable Energy by 2040.”
A press release from Florida PIRG said global warming is “a worsening problem as renewable energy resources are not utilized.”
“USF is a leader among Florida institutions, and would be following in the footsteps of dozens of colleges across the country in committing to 100 percent renewable energy,” the release said. “USF students and faculty are pushing to create a more sustainable future for USF and the Tampa area.”
Florida State University, University of Central Florida and University of West Florida’s student governments have all passed resolutions on 100 percent renewable energy.
Jona Skendaj, the vice president of USF’s PIRG, co-authored the resolution.
“This resolution is important because it’s able to show USF that students want to see change on campus,” said Skendaj, a political science major and criminology minor at USF Tampa. “Being a university that works hard to become innovative, moving towards a greener campus is one step into doing so.”
Skendaj said she was “excited” to see the resolution pass unanimously.
“It felt like our work that was put in from gaining student and faculty support was able to help pay off,” Skendaj said. “It feels like a boost of motivation. Of course our work is not done yet, but it definitely lets us know we are starting to make a difference.”
