NPR’s All Things Considered: Indiana Universities and Coal

Check out the first story in a multiple part series discussing universities in Indiana and coal. IU and the Coal Free IU Campaign will be covered soon!

Ball State is a great example for the state, the nati0n and the world of what is possible: a clean energy future!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121021935

Coal Country Movie Screening TONIGHT

Coal Country

8pm, November 10th

Woodburn Hall rm. 120

Coal Country is a new documentary exploring modern coal mining and the controversy over such practices as strip mining and Mountain Top Removal. Set to officially premier the 14th on Discovery Channel, this focuses on coal’s cradle-to-grave portrait, and the environmental and community impact the mere extraction of coal causes, before the latter issues of global warming and harmful emissions emerge.

Jason Wilber, a local musician who worked on the companion CD to Coal Country, will speak before the film.

Questions? Email Novella Shuck at nshuck@indiana.edu

FMI: http://www.coalcountrythemovie.com/

http://www.sierraclub.org/scp/coalcountry.aspx

 

Green Potluck and Pumpkin Carving Update!

Thanks everyone who made it out for the Green Potluck and Pumpkin Carving event on October 28th! We had a great time and collected a bunch more signature petitions and photo petitions. In case you didn’t get a chance to make it, check out some more photos and the flier we distributed!

See you at the Panel Tonight!!

Check out a great article in the IDS today that talks about our campaign and tonight’s panel!

REMINDER:

Coal on Campus:

Coal and the Future of Energy at Indiana University

When: TODAY Thursday, November 5, 7:00

Where: IMU Persimmon Room (in the Tree Suites)

Who: Panelists include–

Bill Brown, Director, Office of Sustainability
Ben Brabson, Professor, Physics Department
Jeff Kaden, University Engineer, LEED certified
Michael Beczkiewicz, Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network

Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy hosted the Solar Decathlon—a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students competed to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon was an event to which the public was invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design.

Check out their link for more information!

Why scrubbers aren’t enough!

A new article by the New York Times yesterday exposed how scrubbers on coal fired plants do not actually prevent toxic contaminants from polluting our environment. Instead of releasing chemicals into the air, scrubbers simply trap the waste. This then usually gets discharged into local water supplies.

IU’s Central Heating Plant recently finished installing scrubbers as a part of an upgrade to meet environmental quality air standards. To learn more about physical plant updates, visit the IU website.

*Check out the NYT VIDEO!*

LTE Writing Party!

Hello Everyone!

Sierra Club Coal-Free IU is finally in full swing and on its way to shutting down the coal plant on campus and switch to 100% renewable resources. One of the most important aspects of this campaign is to get the word out about our campaign and we want EVERYONE’S voice heard through letters-to-the-editor!

Coal-Free IU will be meeting this Thursday, October 15 from 6-8 in Ballantine Hall 235. We want YOU there to participate in letter-to-the-editor writing that will actually be published in local newspapers like The Herald Times and The Indiana Daily Student. Don’t worry if you have never written one before, the point of the party is to try something new, learn from other people, and walk away with an article as proof of your accomplishment on this campaign!

Free food will be provided so come hungry! Please bring a laptop and a friend!

See you all there!

Sept 16 Press Conference: Official Report Release

On September 16th, a group of students representing Coal Free IU gathered outside the Central Heating Plant to announce the official launch of the Coal Free Campus Campaign. We talked about the importance of moving IU beyond coal because of its environmental impacts and contributions to global warming CO2 emissions, as well as public health concerns.

The launch included the presentation of a new report by the Sierra Club: Moving Campuses Beyond Coal.

Check out some of our coverage: IDS, Herald Times, WFIU, and WFHB!

This nationally coordinated launch happened at the 11 universities highlighted in the Sierra Club’s report including: Oregon State University, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina, University of North Dakota, State University of New York-Binghamton, Ohio University, Pennsylvania State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Here is some of their coverage: New York Times, The Salt Lake Tribune in Boulder, and The Collegian at Penn State.