Jeff Dunlap says he thinks Kansas University students would be willing to fork over some green bills if it meant supporting green energy.

Dunlap, KU’s student body vice president, is spearheading an effort that could increase student fees to purchase blocks of wind energy to power the new Student Recreation Fitness Center.

“We think it would send a good message that students are being responsible with the buildings being built,” Dunlap said. “Developing wind power in Kansas is good for the economy, and it’s good for Mother Earth.”

The increase in fees, which isn’t expected to exceed $1 per semester, would purchase “green tags,” which essentially are vouchers to purchase a block of power from a wind energy farm.

Dunlap said it would cost a few cents more per kilowatt hour to purchase renewable energy, as compared with traditional energy sources. That would translate to about $40,000 a year to run the fitness center, which was dedicated in fall 2003.

Student Senate will discuss the proposal Wednesday. If approved, it would go to a student vote in April.

Then, Student Senate would contract with a renewable energy company to purchase the renewable energy. The amount of wind power equivalent to powering the fitness center would be put in the state’s power grid.

“It’s all theoretical, pretty much,” Dunlap said. “We wouldn’t actually be receiving the energy from the turbines.”

Student leaders have been in discussions with Pristine Power, a Lenexa renewable energy company. Brett Gray, the company’s marketing director, said 30 to 40 universities nationwide have started similar green tag programs. He said he expected more to join the list.

The Student Recreation Center at Kansas University glows at dusk as students inside exercise on treadmills. KU Student Senate is entertaining the idea of purchasing wind power, which would increase fees by about per student per semester.

“This is an easy and simple way for students to make a difference and make a statement that they support renewable energy,” Gray said.

Lee Allison, energy adviser to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, said he expected more Kansas governmental entities to pursue green tags. Sebelius recently set a goal of having 5 percent of power to state government agencies coming from renewable energy sources.

Green tags seem to be the easiest way to do that, Allison said, without state-owned wind farms.

“You’re creating demand for it,” he said. “You’re ensuring there’s a market for it, so companies are willing to make an investment in renewable energy.”

Energy officials in Kansas have touted the state’s wind energy potential in recent years. Sebelius has supported wind farms in areas outside the heart of the Flint Hills to protect the cultural and scenic qualities of the area.

KU officials considered a proposal in 2002 that would have had the university purchasing wind power to supplement the rest of its power supply from Westar Energy. But that was contingent on Kansas Wind Power LLC building a wind farm in Butler County, which never occurred. Todd Cohen, a university spokesman, said no universitywide wind energy program had been proposed since then.

Though the proposed fee comes at a time when tuition rates have increased by double-digit percentages over the last three years, a $1-a-semester fee would represent a small increase over the current fee rate, which is $287 per semester.

“I think it’s a fine way to raise the money, because a dollar, I mean, what is that?” said Eric Buschelman, a senior from Edmond, Okla. “That’s a Coke. That’s a muffin.”

Added Kathy Zolla, a senior from Denver: “If it’s environmentally conscious, then it’s a good idea.”

Aaron Stehman, a freshman from Newton, said he supported pursuing renewable energy sources. But he said students shouldn’t be the ones to pay.

“I think that if everybody wants to make the university better, then the money should be coming from donors and higher-ups in the university to make it better,” he said. “I am already paying enough money to come here.”

— Kansas University student Gary Meenaghan contributed information to this report.