Danielle Simmons

Spring 2017 Campus Sustainability Fund Vote

This Spring 2017 semester Campus Sustainability Fund Vote

“2017 Science Arts and Music Festival” a $2,000 proposal was overwhelmingly passed. 188 Students participated in the vote and over 95% of them were in favor of funding the proposal. This past year the Campus Sustainability Fund has been able to fund many great projects and programs and we are looking forward to Sam Fest on April 22nd.

Last semester (Fall 2016) there were four proposals over $500 that were sent to student vote: Solar Kiln ($22,650), Raised Beds for Gould’s Garden ($900), LED Lights ($15,384), and Certified Interpretive Guide Trainer for Environmental Communication ($7,300).  All of the proposals were passed by over 75% of the 239 responses that we got. There was also an under $500 proposal: Mushroom Growing Kits for the Culinary Arts Department. This proposal was passed as well.

Any under $500 Campus Sustainability Fund proposals can be submitted at any time throughout the semester, there is no deadline. This is because they do not have to be voted on by the student body, just a student committee. All proposals must meet certain criteria, though. You can find the Campus Sustainability Fund Applications at https://www.paulsmiths.edu/sustainability/campus-sustainability-fund/ or outside the Center for Campus Sustainability office (Pickett 109).

A Life-Changing Internship

What is it like to work for a rapidly growing renewable energy company like Apex Clean Energy? Let me give you the inside scoop.

This summer I worked as a development intern for the Galloo Island Wind project in Hounsfield, New York. Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to educate the public about the project on many occasions. The thing that you might not see from the outside is that people are not always warm and fuzzy when it comes to putting windmills in their backyard. I got to hear occasionally about how bad some locals feel that these windmills are going to be, but I also got to speak with a lot of people who feel just as passionate about renewable energy as I do.

My favorite part of this job, however, is speaking with people who are open minded and really listen to what I have to say without preconceived biases. These are usually the individuals who soak up all the information and come to their own conclusion that wind energy is a clean and sustainable resource.

Wind and solar energy are the way of the future, and having the opportunity to help in the early stages of their production and help my community at the same time is life changing. I have learned so much while interning this summer and I am sad that my days with Apex Clean Energy are coming to an end. I will never forget this experience or the people that have been key factors in helping me throughout this summer to grow.

-Danielle Simmons