Green power under threat
Students took to the streets on Monday in a last-minute attempt to persuade
the University not to terminate its current green electricity policy.
The University is completely run on renewable energy at present, but this may be set to change when the contract ends in March.
A spokeswoman for the University said increases in the cost of renewable energy will add 60 per cent to Oxford's electricity bill, a figure topping £4m.
The protest took place last Monday afternoon outside the Oxford University Press building to try to influence the university council meeting inside not to revert to non-green electricity sources.
Due to the increase in the price of 'green' electricity it is likely the University will be forced to return to non-renewable 'brown' energy when it renews its power contract.
Oxford is currrently Europe's eighth largest purchaser of green electricity.
Jess Cordingly from St Hugh's, one of the protestors on Tuesday, said: "It seems ridiculous that the University should make such a progressive move, and then take a step backwards.
"Oxford University has set a precedent, and it should not go back on its green policy."
This has led to an outcry from environmental groups and the Green Party.
Environmental group People and Planet recently presented a petition to the University containing over 2,000 signatures from students in support of their cause.
Around 40 students bearing banners and placards and chanting green slogans converged in Jericho.
"The use of green electricity is vital if we are to avoid even greater and more disastrous climate change.
"The problems will hit the Third World hardest, in countries like Bangladesh. We won't be safe in Britain either; by 2080 sea levels will rise by between 30 and 90 cms," said Ian Ross, co-chair of People and Planet.
Oxford University has cited financial reasons for the uncertainty over whether the contract will be renewed.
However, Ross denied suggestions that green energy was not financially viable for the University.
"Cambridge and Reading became users of green electricity in November so the new prices must be affordable," he said.
The protesters maintain that if energy efficiency measures are put into practise by the university then costs could be cut and so green electricity could easily be much cheaper in the long run than power from non-renewable sources.
"We're protesting to let the university know that we haven't forgotten the green energy contract, and we're not going to forget," said a protestor from Balliol College.
"Students obviously care about the issue, as you can see by the amount of people who've shown up in the pouring rain."
A statement has not yet been issued by the University on their decision regarding environmental policy.
20th Jan 2005