In response to Jenna’s post regarding UNC-Chapel Hill’s plan to end all coal use by 2020:
1) They are doing this so they can use a cleaner form of energy–their new energy source: biomass, and specifically wood waste. Um, biomass isn’t cleaner folks, even according to the state’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In fact, compared to coal, wood is a lot worse in the emissions of every major pollutant except for sulfur dioxide (SO2). It is even worse when it comes to emitting “evil” carbon dioxide.
2) This will cost a lot more money. If UNC-Chapel Hill wants to do this, fine, go ahead, but the legislature should make it perfectly clear that the extra costs will need to be offset elsewhere. I’d recommend higher tuition. After all, since the students are so interested in this, shouldn’t they be the ones that pay for making the campus “greener” as opposed to taxpayers, most of whom realize the absurdity of the idea.
