UNC Chapel Hill prides itself on taking a leadership role in addressing social and environmental issues. But UNC now finds itself not as champion of a cause, but as target. The case involves a Sierra Club-led anti-coal student group. I recently reported on the group’s push to get the university to quickly stop burning coal at UNC Chapel Hill’s cogeneration plant. The group believes coal is killing the planet.

Now comes word that the anti-coal effort against UNC is escalating. A person associated with the group has asked the Chapel Hill town council to join the cause against UNC and the council seems receptive. The Herald-Sun story also says the plan is to petition the Orange County commissioners and Carrborro officials. So, UNC may find itself in the political crosshairs of local government.