2009.09.29 Press Release
Coal Day of Action- Univ of MO Targets Dirty Coal
Coal Free Campus - University of Missouri National Day of Action .
September 29, 2009
Contact: Ryan Doyle, (218) 390-9561
University of Missouri Students Target Dirty Coal
National Day of Action Calls for Strong Rules to Clean Up Coal
Columbia, MO: University of Missouri students held one of dozens of events nationwide to fight special clean up exemptions for coal in front of the campus coal plant. Over two hundred people turned out over the course of the day to show support for strong regulations to help clean up pollution, including 119,136 tons of CO2 and 254.58 tons of NOx every year along with Sox, mercury and other pollutants spewed directly over the campus community.
Students leaders held a small “photo” rally with the campus coal plant as a backdrop before moving to Lowry Mall to collect photo “signatures” to submit to EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson. The photo signatures illustrate support for strong regulations to help clean up coal pollution.
“In spite of the contributions and hard work of the employees in the coal industry, coal is still one of the dirtiest industries—from the mine, to the smokestack, to the ash pond. It threatens public health at every stage of its life cycle,” said Mallory Schillinger, a Senior at the University of Missouri.
The Sierra Club and the Sierra Student Coalition recently launched a new campaign to move the University of Missouri beyond coal, part of a nationwide effort on more than 60 campuses. The groups aim to phase out dirty coal in power plants, like that used on Mizzou’s campus, and replace them with cleaner energy options and energy efficiency.
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. Students are calling on the university to act responsibly, by setting up at timetable for ending its reliance coal and then taking aggressive and meaningful steps to follow through on this coal-free plan.
Though it has spent millions on ‘clean’ coal advertising, the truth is that the coal industry has for years actively fought against cleaning up the existing coal fleet. That’s why strong regulations are vital to protect families and communities from coal’s dangerous side effects.
“It will take more than glitzy advertising to clean up coal. It’s time for the coal industry to stop trying to block common sense regulations that will protect communities and the environment,” said Katie Reinarman, a senior at Mizzou. “We need to clean up coal and get to work building a clean energy economy.”
More information:
Big Picture Day of Action: http://action.sierraclub.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adv_bigpicture_photopetition
Campuses beyond Coal: http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/campus/