Texas A&M University
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

As a state entity, there are limitations regarding state and federal advocacy activities at Texas A&M. Nonetheless, Texas A&M is a long standing leader in the discussion and engagement regarding sustainability at the state and federal level. Texas A&M faculty help comprise the campus-based Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL). ESL is a division of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station and a member of the Texas A&M University System. The ESL is affiliated with the Energy Systems Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (five faculty), as well as two faculty from the Department of Architecture in the College of Architecture and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. During the most recent Texas legislative session, A&M faculty, through the ESL, participated in weekly meetings during the Texas Legislative session regarding energy efficiency and sustainability legislation and served as the scientific resource for this group of sustainability-related interests. Specifically, Texas A&M faculty served as resource witnesses for legislation that eventually became law: bills that require ESL to calculate energy savings and emissions reduction based on reports to the State Energy Conservation Office for both state facilities and municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives. Historically, Texas A&M faculty have been similarly engaged. In 2001, the ESL was assigned an important role by state officials in the implementation of state energy standards and assistance with calculation of emissions reduction benefits from energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP). In the 79th Texas Legislature (2005) ESL was required to develop three alternative methods for achieving 15% above-code energy savings in new residential, commercial and industrial construction. The ESL continues to work closely with code officials, energy raters, manufacturers, state officials and other stakeholders to develop cost effective energy efficiency measures. On the federal level, Texas A&M advocates for increased funding for energy research in the Department of Energy (DOE) including the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Office of Science, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the Biomass Program, as well as through DOE programs such as the Innovation Hubs, and Energy Frontier Research Centers. Texas A&M is also engaged in energy efficiency and related research efforts ongoing in DOE and other agencies (e.g. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, and National Science Foundation). As an example, Texas A&M has an NSF funded project to significantly alleviate the skyrocketing energy consumption associated with data centers by leveraging available technology.