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The Texas Green Fund Campaign is a statewide effort to encourage the creation of campus green funds for environmental projects on college and university campuses. We believe student bodies in Texas should have the opportunity to vote with their dollars for a clean energy economy and better environmental stewardship. The campaign is being run on numerous campuses around the state where student groups have decided to ask students whether they would like to pay a nominal fee each semester to support environmental improvements on their campus.
In the spring of 2009, the Texas State Legislature passed HB 3353 which effectively fast-tracked the creation of "environmental service fees" on public college and university campuses. The legislation stated that if a student body voted in a general student election for the creation of such a fee, the governing body of the institution could implement the fee without further oversight from the legislature. This cut 3+ years out of the previous process for creating fees.
The environmental service fees can go towards environmental projects related to energy consumption, water use, waste disposal and recycling, green space, purchasing decisions and more. A limit was set at $5 per student per semester for an initial fee. This amount can be increased to as much as $10 per student in subsequent elections.
The Texas Green Fund Campaign is supported by ReEnergize Texas, a coalition of students and student groups in Texas working for a clean energy future. ReEnergize Texas is supported by Public Citizen’s Texas office which has worked for the good of consumers in Texas for over 25 years.
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