Ginny Gnadt 
Senior Public Relations Specialist
(414) 297-6770, gnadtv@matc.edu

MILWAUKEE (March 26, 2010) – Milwaukee Area Technical College’s president, Dr. Michael L. Burke, signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) at the 2010 Green Energy Summit March 24-26. Held at the Midwest Airlines Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., the summit was hosted by MATC and sponsored by a coalition of academic institutions, corporations, non-profits and government agencies. President Burke signed the document to kick off the summit’s midday session Wednesday, March 24.

The ACUPCC was formed in late 2006 by 12 college and university presidents concerned about global warming and climate neutrality. To date, presidents of 675 U.S. colleges and universities have signed the commitment. Presidents pledge to complete an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions within a year; eliminate their campuses’ net greenhouse gas emissions in a reasonable period of time as determined by each institution; create and implement a climate action plan; integrate sustainability into the curriculum and make it part of the educational experience; and make the action plan, inventory and periodic progress reports publicly available.

“We felt that the opening of the 7th annual Green Energy Summit was a very appropriate time to sign the Climate Commitment and formally affirm MATC’s dedication to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Dr. Burke. “Sustainability is one of MATC’s most important strategic goals.”

The Green Energy Summit was designed to inform and motivate professionals, investors and entrepreneurs in clean energy and educate workers-in-transition for green jobs. Each day of the summit had its own focus – green business, green energy and green career pathways.