The Student Sustainability Committee will vote on 20 project proposals Friday to determine how to allocate approximately $600,000 for the semester.

The funding comes from the $12 non-refundable sustainable campus environment fee and a $2 clean energy technologies fee.

The committee has received proposals for projects that together cost $1.6 million dollars, but it can only fund $1.1 million in projects for the fall and spring semesters. The committee will allocate approximately $600,000 per semester and solely fund fall 2012 projects at Friday’s meeting.

“Ultimately, the decisions come down to how much money we have available and whether the projects are really moving the University forward and making it more sustainable,” said Emily Cross, head of marketing for the Student Sustainability Committee.

Prior to the meeting Friday, committee members categorized proposals into working groups that are related to water, food and waste, education, transportation, land or energy. The groups will select proposals that will be put up for Friday’s vote.

The solar farm proposal is the most expensive proposal, and it will use $350,000 dollars of funding this semester if funds are allocated to it. Marika Nell, chair of the student sustainability committee, said the location of the solar farm was controversial because the land was a proposed site for a school.

“These issues with the solar farm were mostly resolved,” Nell said. “Hopefully, fingers crossed, that won’t hijack the meeting again.”

She said so far, the project has been approved by the Board of Trustees, but the committee needs to approve funding for the initiative to pass.

“It basically works on a semester basis,” Nell said. “Projects that want to start next semester will get the funding by then.”

She said projects had a year to use the money after it was allocated, but could request an extension if needed.

Cross said there were more student proposals this year than in the past.

Proposals this year include funds for the student publication The Green Observer, a proposal for native prairie planning interns for Students for Environmental Concerns, solar-powered electric cars from students in LINC engineering classes and funding for the solar decathalon.

“The worst part is saying no,” Cross said. “There are really a lot of great projects out there.”

The committee will meet in room 211 of the Illini Union on Friday at 2 p.m.

Claire can be reached at [email protected].