Auraria Clean Energy Campaign

The Auraria Higher Education Center in Downtown Denver, Colorado, hosts over 30,000 students who attend the University of Colorado at Denver, Metropolitan State College, and the Community College of Denver. A group of dedicated students, alumni, faculty, and staff got together in the Summer of 2002 to join other forward-thinking colleges around the country and introduce clean renewable energy - along with an increased awareness of energy issues - to the Auraria campus.

The "Auraria Clean Energy Campaign" was formed with the goal of collecting $1 per student per semester to be used for on-campus renewable energy. While most of this money would go towards Renewable Energy Credits (or "RECs", based primarily on wind power), the Campaign also pushed for a solar-energy demonstration on-campus.

Since the Auraria Campus hosted three different schools, the Campaign had more than the usual number of hurdles to clear: specifically, they had to get approval for this measure from three different student councils and three different school administrations, then from the overall campus board, and then from all three student bodies. Needless to say, communication was a priority for this campaign.

PvH Communications helped with campaign communications from the very beginning: gathering student petition signatures, creating and managing the campaign e-mail list, speaking at campus campaign events, and finding a number of other new & innovative ways to spread the word about clean energy at Auraria. PvH Communications was reponsible for "Vote YES for Clean Energy at Auraria" messages on blackboards all over campus.

PvH Communcations even managed to have two solar-powered roadside message boards placed on campus during Election Week.

In April 2004, the Auraria student body voted 95% - 5% to approve the $1 increase in semester fees. Campus officials were also impressed with the much-higher-than-usual voter turnout for this election ("about twice as much as we usually get"). And Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper even proclaimed April 29, 2004, as "Auraria Clean Energy Day."

 

"Winning a Clean Energy Campaign and raising student fees to do so is no easy task, and winning with 95% support is unheard of. Phil von Hake was an integral part of our campaign's success: helping to bring all stakeholders to the table, keeping them informed, and getting out our message. Phil would be an asset to any campaign or initiative."

Joel Sayre, Founder
Metro State Active Voices for the Environment

 

"The Auraria Clean Energy Campaign would not have been successful without the analytical work and research to help prepare our argument provided by Phil von Hake. His passion and dedication were incredibly important to the campaign."

Faith Winter, Field Director
Envirocitizen

 

Every political campaign needs "a message to help clear the air." Contact PvH Communications today to see how this can be done for your campaign!