Clemson Students want to eliminate coal in the next 5 years

SILENT SIGNING: Students let their recycled cardboard signs state the facts about coal. (Photo: Students for Environmental Awareness)

Clemson University's on-campus coal burning facilities have become one of the many targets of the Sierra Club's Campuses Beyond Coal initiative. The goal is for campuses across the country no longer to be dependent on coal for their energy needs.

  

Field Organizer Zachary Keith from the Sierra Club has helped this movement get rolling at Clemson. While there are several individuals across campus that would like to see Clemson move beyond coal, it is hard for all those voices to come together and effect change.

 

As an organizer, Keith's work has been mainly getting those people together and guiding them in the right direction. He started out by rooting the campaign with students in Students for Environmental Awareness, but he is working on connecting others to the campaign. "So many people care about these issues," Keith said, and they aren't all neatly placed into environmental clubs at Clemson. 

 

At this point, the campaign is focusing on spreading the word that "coal is dirty" (like the video below) and why Clemson should move away from it. Keith can spout off endless reasons why coal should not be used.

 

 

Keith is also working with students to create a structure and sustainability for the campaign itself. Keith is helping to establish student leaders and passing along what he's learned about grassroots organizing.

 

So far, the Beyond Coal Campaign has not met any opposition. Clemson has had three coal burning units, and is now down to one. That last one is past the average life span of about 40 years, so it is on its last legs. The University's goal is to phase the last one out in the next five years.

 

Researching and implementing cleaner energy sources on campus fits in nicely with President Jim Barker's goals to become a top 20 public university. Barker acknowledged the issue in the State of the University Address, saying "We will be moving forward on finding other ways of generating energy other than coal."

 

The quest for cleaner energy to power our campus is not that of a single individual, or even a single organization, but encompasses people across campus from energy research to financial planning to public health. "There are so many different angles to come at this issue," Keith said.

 

Through the Sierra Student Coalition, there is even a greater network encompassing the Beyond Coal campaigns at 35 other universities across the country. It's important for colleges and universities to set examples for their communities for cleaner energy sources.

 

"The momentum has been great so far," Keith said. Keith found the push he was looking for from the students and faculty at Clemson University, and he has begun to phase himself out. "It's great to see students take over."

 

 

Check back in five years to see how Clemson is meeting their energy needs with cleaner and more sustainable means.