Calvin University Partners with Consumers Energy to Commit to 100% Clean Energy
Calvin University has announced a groundbreaking 20-year partnership with Consumers Energy to meet 100% of the university’s annual energy needs with renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power. This agreement demonstrates Calvin’s steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability and the transition to a cleaner, greener future for Michigan.
Consumers Energy has pledged to match 100% of Calvin University’s annual electric energy consumption—21 million kWh—with carbon-free energy. By committing to this initiative, Calvin University is accelerating the development of new clean energy projects in Michigan and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 8,124 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimations. This reduction is comparable to removing 1,895 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road each year or offsetting the energy use of 1,091 homes for a year, according to the EPA.
“This partnership reflects Calvin University’s deep dedication to creation care and sustainable flourishing for all,” said Greg Elzinga, president of Calvin University. “As a Christian liberal arts institution, we see this as a joyful response to God’s call to steward the Earth responsibly. Through our collaboration with Consumers Energy, we are not only reducing our environmental footprint but also serving as a model for how institutions can lead in the fight against climate change.”
Lauren Snyder, vice president of customer experience for Consumers Energy, highlighted the partnership’s importance in advancing Michigan’s clean energy goals. “Calvin University’s leadership in choosing 100% renewable energy under our program underscores the critical role institutions play in shaping a sustainable future alongside us. This partnership will have a lasting impact, driving the growth of clean energy infrastructure and reducing carbon emissions across our state,” Snyder said.
Why It Matters
- This agreement has profound environmental and social implications. By transitioning to 100% renewable energy, the EPA estimates Calvin University: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 914,179 gallons of gasoline consumed or 9,024,608 pounds of coal burned annually;
- Supports the carbon sequestration efforts of 134,336 tree seedlings grown for 10 years or the preservation of 48.5 acres of forest annually;
- And avoids waste emissions comparable to recycling 2,871 tons of waste, the equivalent of 690,619 trash bags of waste kept out of landfills annually.
Calvin’s Sustainability Legacy
Calvin University integrates environmental sustainability into every aspect of campus life, from academics to operations. Through initiatives like the Plaster Creek Stewards program, a nature preserve education center, and a sustainability-focused curriculum, the university is equipping students to lead in addressing global environmental challenges. This new partnership with Consumers Energy represents a significant milestone in Calvin’s ongoing mission to foster a more just, equitable, and ecologically healthy world.
About Calvin University
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its 3,600 students from 48 U.S. states, 66 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.
