Flip the calendar back to 2007, when Colorado College sophomore David Amster-Olszewski circulated a petition that 70% of the school’s 2,000 students signed in just 10 days, calling for the campus to commit to reaching carbon neutrality.
Two years later, the campus set 2020 as the date to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from certain campus operations and use renewable energy sources.
On Friday comes the celebration for the goal being realized.
Amster-Olszewski, whose career in renewable energy was launched by that student-led drive, said he knew the grassroots initiative was achievable.
“We were looking for how do we address climate change not just for the college but in a way that sets a precedent and serves as an example for others to see this is possible,” he said.