Weber State University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Over 10 years ago, Weber State University and Ogden City came together to create the College Town Coalition which is led by WSU President Brad Mortensen and Ogden City Mayor Ben Nadolski and is administered by three committees: the Executive Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Marketing Committee. Information about the College Town Coalition can be found here: https://weber.edu/collegetowncoalition

Over the years, the College Town Coalition has worked together on a number of goals that are mutually beneficial. In 2019, President Mortensen advocated for the inclusion of several sustainability goals into the College Town Coalition's plans. The sustainability-specific goals included the following:

• Annually co-host community sustainability programs (e.g. lightbulb exchange)


• Develop and implement a City-wide energy efficiency plan


• Research and implement recycling and waste-to-fuel facility options for the City


• Work together to improve public transportation options for the City


• Set a City goal to be carbon neutral by 2050


• Procure renewable energy for the City 


• Ogden City to hire a sustainability coordinator to implement the above goals

Since 2019, several of these goals have been achieved and WSU and Ogden City are still working actively on many of them. Please see the attached document celebrating the 10th anniversary of the College Town Coalition which highlights the group's achievements. 

In 2019, Ogden City passed a resolution to source 100% net electricity for the City from renewable energy sources and Ogden has been a member of the Utah Renewable Communities Program. Utah's Renewable Communities Program was made possible by state legislation in 2019 (House Bill 411). HB 411 allows eligible local governments to procure net-100% renewable electricity by 2030 on behalf of their residents and businesses. Information about HB 411 can be found here - https://le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0411.html

The Utah Renewable Communities group continues to meet to work towards the 100% net renewable electricty goal. The latest information about the group's work can be found here: https://www.utahrenewablecommunities.org/ 

In 2020, Ogden City adopted its first community Energy Wise Plan which sets goals to reduce municipal, commercial, and residential energy consumption: https://ogdencity.com/1606/Energy-Wise-Ogden

In 2023, Ogden City hired their first sustainability coordinator. 

Also in 2023, after years of working together with UTA, a new bus rapid transit line (the OGX) was opened providing service from McKay Dee Hospital, to WSU's Ogden campus, and downtown to the Frontrunner Station. Information about the OGX line can be found here: https://www.rideuta.com/Current-Projects/Ogden-Express-OGX

WSU and Ogden City also have continued to implement community programs through these past several years. Information about those community programs can be found here: https://www.weber.edu/sustainability/community-programs.html

Much of this sustainability work would not have happened without active advocacy from WSU through the College Town Coalition. WSU has prided itself on placing sustainability practices at the forefront for over 15 years and has been working with Ogden City for over five years to share the sustainability vision and help implement community-wide sustainability goals.

WSU President Mortensen is a signatory of the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact. As a signatory of this compact, President Mortensen stated support for the mileposts outlined in The Utah Roadmap: Positive Solutions to Climate and Air Quality which can be located here - https://gardner.utah.edu/utahroadmap/ Signing the compact also meant supporting the following six principles: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Poor air quality has an immediate impact on the health of Utah families, especially our most vulnerable communities. Climate change poses a large and growing threat to the health and prosperity of Utah communities and beyond. We ask Utahns to take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants in a manner that lifts all communities. The next ten years are critical. CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY: Many strategies – such as improving energy efficiency, reducing auto emissions, developing transit and active transportation systems, and advancing innovative energy solutions – benefit both air quality and our climate. This clean air-climate connection provides common ground for action. We affirm we can make progress by addressing both. ECONOMY: Important industries such as agriculture, tourism/winter recreation, technology, and energy will benefit from Utah’s climate and clean air leadership. Salt Lake City’s selection as the U.S. bid city for a future Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment by taking decisive action to reduce emissions. RE-ENERGIZE UTAH: Efforts to address climate change and air quality are leading to rapid advancements in technology and a global economic and energy revolution. This revolution will touch every aspect of our lives and economy and create new opportunities for innovation as we achieve a resilient, clean, and affordable energy future. Utah is in a unique position to seize these opportunities through our robust solar energy industry and our abundant clean energy resources. RURAL UTAH: The energy transition poses challenges for rural Utah communities. We urge the state to prioritize economic development and investment in rural areas impacted by changing energy markets. LEADERSHIP AND THE UTAH WAY: Utahns have a proud history of leading on and investing in challenging issues with collaborative solutions. Whether it is refugee resettlement, immigration reform, anti-discrimination, quality growth, fiscal responsibility, or religious freedom, Utah leads. We enthusiastically support applying “The Utah Way” to make our climate and air quality leadership another Utah success story. Information about the compact can be found here - https://climateandcleanaircompact.org/ and a list of signatories can be found here - https://climateandcleanaircompact.org/signatories/

On September 11, 2023, Weber State University President, Brad Mortensen, joined the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities leadership and presidents of HSI, emerging HSI, and aspiring HSI institutions to meet with Biden Administration officials to encourage support for Hispanic Serving Institutions. WSU committed itself to becoming an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution in the latest strategic plan. Information about WSU's Emerging Hispanic Serviing Institution mission can be found here: https://weber.edu/equity-diversity-inclusion/emerging-hispanic-serving.html