Experts were on hand to discuss viable pathways to transition the university beyond coal while positioning the university as a leader in implementing innovative, creative and forward thinking solutions such as using solar, designing better buildings and growing local economies with integrated biomass solutions.
At the event Steve Burdic, Mizzou’s Sustainability Coordinator said the University of Missouri is “committed to getting off coal”. He explained that the university is committed to carbon neutrality in the short term and will be working on a long-term plan to completely eliminate coal. That plan should be specified within a year.
Mallory Schillinger, University of Missouri Senior and moderator of the event, said “Global Warming is the single greatest challenge our generation will face. Our reliance on dirty coal is adding to the problem and it should be phased out as quickly as possible. We applaud the University for committing to eliminate coal and look forward to working with the administration to develop a coal-free plan.
“A growing number of the nation's leading colleges and universities are recognizing the economic, environmental and academic benefits of going solar. If educators truly want to practice what they preach, it is incumbent on the University to assess how solar arrays atop of flat roofs, parking garages and open spaces on the outskirts of the campus can generate electricity and lower Mizzou's carbon footprint," said Jim Pierobon, a Mizzou graduate who is Vice President - Policy and Market Development for Standard Solar, Inc. Standard Solar has designed and installed solar energy systems for The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and is preparing large-scale systems for several additional universities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
"Renewable energy and efficiency go hand in hand. Saving energy with efficiency is the cleanest and cheapest way to use energy. Once we need less energy, we'll be able to meet our demands with renewables” said Henry Robertson, environmental lawyer with Great Rivers Environmental Law Center and Missouri Sierra Club’s Energy Chairman. He added, "Combined heat and power, or CHP, is a way of recycling the heat created by electricity generation and using it to heat and cool buildings. It's a good efficiency measure, and I'm glad Mizzou does it. I just wish they wouldn't do it with coal."
Although the University has taken notable steps toward clean energy, including aggressive energy efficiency programs and plans underway to install a new biomass boiler, the campus still relies on dirty coal for about 80% of its energy generation. In fact, the school used more than 48,900 tons of coal for electricity generation in 2007.
Coal Free Mizzou is part of The Sierra Club and the Sierra Student Coalition Campuses Beyond Coal campaign, a nationwide effort on 60 campuses to move our nation's universities beyond coal to 100% clean energy solutions. We aim to shut down or replace campus-based coal plants and end our schools' dependence on the coal-generated electricity they purchase.
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