Apr. 24--Boise State University is showing support for renewable energy by purchasing green energy credits from a local wind farm, a small step toward easing the university's dependence on power imported from outside Idaho.

The university is spending $1,500 to buy the renewable energy credits from Lewandowski Farms, which operates three wind turbines off Interstate 84 about 20 miles southeast of Boise State. Buying the credits doesn't mean Boise State will actually use energy generated by the turbines, but the act shows support for the project and helps promote renewable energy, said Jeff Hale, BSU's director of housing. The university is paying for enough nergy to power Morrison Hall, a dorm that will soon be home to students from the College of Engineering. Hale said many of those students will likely study wind energy at the turbine site.

"While this may be a small step, it will be very educational for our students," he said. The energy produced by Lewandowski Farms goes into the electrical grid from which the campus draws power. Purchasing green credits is the only practical way for Boise State to support wind power, said Lars Dorr, an energy engineer who is one of the farm s owners. "I wouldn't put a wind turbine right in Boise because it's low-lying," Dorr said. "There are other spots in the state that are windier." BSU, Idaho's largest university, uses little renewable energy right now. A plan to tap in to the geothermal resources that heat the Statehouse and other Downtown buildings is described in university documents as being "on hold"; university officials sai they don't know of any campus buildings using solar energy.

In contrast, the University of Idaho uses geothermal energy from the city's geothermal system and green energy credits for heat and electricity at its Boise location. In Moscow, a wood chip plant produces about 90 percent of the power used in the univer ity's core buildings, said Tania Thompson, U of I director of media relations. Conventional energy is relatively cheap in Idaho, which might reduce the incentive to use alternative sources of power. But the Green Team, a campus group that promotes renewable energy, advocates installing solar panels at Boise State. Once the equipment was installed, using solar energy would save the university money, said Green Team Chair Whitney Rearick, BSU manager for facilities and space planning.

"There's so much sun, but there's so little money for infrastructure," Rearick said. Boise State is working on new construction to keep up with its student growth. No money is set aside for adding renewable energy to the projects, Rearick said, but "I think Boise State is open to that sort of thing." The project with Lewandowski is largely symbolic. The farm can only generate a small amount of electricity, Dorr said. But Boise State's involvement will help promote research on wind energy in Idaho, an area that Dorr said has high potential. "We could have bought wind power credits from Idaho Power, but this is locally grown wind power, which is a really exciting opportunity," Rearick said.

Hale, who started his job in July, said using renewable energy in dorms is a high priority for him. He noted that the student housing department plans to replace vehicles that wear out with vehicles that run on alternative fuels. "I think they will provide clean exhaust and also eventually save us money," he said. Morrison Hall will have signs showing students how much electricity they are using and educating them on how to save energy, said Rearick. Boise State provides housing for about 2,000 of its more than 18,000 students; Morrison Hall holds around 80 stude ts. "We hope it's a prototype for things to come," Hale said.

"As a housing department, we hope students look at this not just as a neat trendy thing that we've done while they live on campus, but they make it lifelong practice." Contact reporter Anne Wallace Allen at aallen@idahostatesman.com or 377-6433.