A newly launched Washington University’s group is bringing students and faculty together to find novel renewable energy solutions to power the University away from unsustainable sources.

Chartered by Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration Henry Webber, the taskforce will explore potential opportunities for using renewable sources of energy for the University. Director of sustainability Phil Valko will co-chair the task force.

The Renewable Energy Taskforce is the first student-faculty cooperative project to overhaul the consumption of energy on campus.

“The students will play a role in doing a bunch of the research in the final report we produce. The way we structured the committee [is that] there are administrators, faculty and students. We know that some students already have expertise on renewable [energy while] others do not but are still very interested in it,” Valko said. “Coming from both directions…both can play a very substantial role in the committee.”

Valko said that the taskforce is currently looking for students who are interested in renewable energy, and can bring a diverse array of perspectives, to join their team.

“I really think that students across the board would be good contributors to the effort,” he said.

Still, some students are skeptical of the effect the taskforce will have.

Junior Ken Kumanomido, co-president of Green Action, expressed some reservations.

“It’s really encouraging to see the University is making an issue of looking into renewable energy so seriously,” Kumanomido said. “I would be interested in being a part of the process, but I am somewhat hesitant as to the concrete impact their recommendations will have on the University’s energy use.”

Kumanomido is skeptical about the impact the group’s final report will actually have.

“I would be more confident if I was assured that their recommendations would be implemented,” he said. “I don’t want this to just be an excuse for the University to say that they are working on renewables.”

The taskforce is seeking three undergraduate and three graduate students with faculty and staff to join its team. The student selection will occur through an online nomination form. The submission deadline is Thursday, April 19.

The three objectives of the taskforce include developing a renewable energy report with recommendations for the University; using renewable energy projects to supplement sustainability teaching, research, and operations; and identifying the feasibility of using renewable energy sources for University off-campus housing. The report will uncover opportunities for private, non-profit and governmental partnerships.

Additionally, the taskforce seeks to incorporate its plan with that of the University’s international partners through the McDonnell Academy Global Energy and Environment Partnership (MAGEEP) and the upcoming 2012 Mumbai Symposium on Energy & Environment.

While the charter of the taskforce was not met with any resistance from other faculty and staff, one of the biggest challenges for the taskforce will be the current lack of a budget.

“There isn’t a budget currently. We have those three objectives…I think we can accomplish a lot of [the objectives] without a budget, because a lot of the exploration and research can be done without a budget,” Valko said. “My sense is that if we identify a need to get something in particular, we could appeal and get funding for it.”

Valko also acknowledged that the implementation of the report may take many years.

“[The report] will help the University identify which renewable recommendations make the most sense immediately and which seem promising but maybe we need to wait a couple of years for any number of reasons,” he said. “I think the report itself will help with the vision of how, when and what renewables we should add to our [campus].”

The taskforce plans to meet monthly with the possibility of sub-committee meetings in between full body meetings. There will also be participatory opportunities for students who will be in St. Louis or available via conference calls.

“We’re looking for students with at least a baseline of knowledge, but, most importantly, an interest,” Valko said.

Sophomore Rachel Goldstein is interested in the idea of the taskforce and has hope for more student involvement in sustainability initiatives.

“I want it to be really connected to the student body, because I think a lot of our decisions on where our energy is coming from are made without student input, and sometimes students don’t think about it.”

Goldstein is currently an intern at the University’s Office of Sustainability.

“I really hope that the Renewable Energy Taskforce is not only working really hard toward getting renewable energy, but also letting the students have a really active role,” she said. “It is something that shouldn’t just be up to [the administration] to deal with; it should be something that the whole Wash. U. community is dealing with.”