Environmental Trust awards grant to rangeland, agriculture facility

Dale Grant, CSC vice president for administration, said the money from the trust will be used to help fund construction documents for the building. The grant will help the building earn certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s national program of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, more commonly referred to as LEED.

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures.

“It is the college’s goal that students not only learn about environmentally friendly practices in this building, but that the building itself serves as a prime example of sound environmental stewardship,” Grant said.

LEED-certified buildings, according the council, have lower operating costs and increased asset value, reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water, provide a safer environment for occupants, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consequently qualify for financial incentives. The certification also demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

The Rangeland Center is a component of Vision 2011, the $11 million fund-raising campaign by the Chadron State Foundation that will boost CSC’s capital, endowment and annual fund. The facility, with an estimated cost of $5.5 million, is envisioned to be a key component in the growth of CSC’s programs for rangeland and agriculture studies. The campaign is scheduled to conclude in the fall of 2011, the year of the college’s centennial.

The Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Environmental Trust in 1992 to conserve, enhance and restore the natural environments of the state. Using revenue from the Nebraska Lottery, the Trust has provided grants in excess of $157 million to more than 1,200 projects across the state.