Last week, UVa Beyond Coal held one of the most successful general interest meetings on Grounds - turning out 50 students. This is an example of how the power of student support is the key step toward building a strong social movement.
Thanks to student efforts, hundreds of universities have committed to reduce their carbon emissions to zero with exciting clean energy projects. Several schools, including University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of North Carolina, and just last week - Penn State University - are upping the ante with strong commitments to end their dependence on highly polluting coal power.
Here at the University, coal-fired power is a main source of heating on Grounds. Our plant - across from the hospital on JPA - has numerous ill effects on Grounds, including the acid rain which has deteriorated the top portion of the columns of the Rotunda that are now undergoing restoration.
This is unacceptable, and it's why the UVa Beyond Coal is working to phase out campus use of coal power and transition to cleaner energy sources. By retiring campus-based coal plants and getting our schools off coal purchased from the grid, we will be investing in, developing and modeling our vision for a clean energy future.
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