Tide turning on coal use; UNC must end dependence

TO THE EDITOR:

With last week’s ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency that bans new valley fills, it is clear that the fight against the environmental and public health costs of U.S. coal consumption is gaining momentum on the national agenda.

The U.S. is in the midst of serious overhaul of environmental regulation. With bipartisan climate legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions on the horizon this year, it is also likely that the U.S. will see a major shift in the economics of our energy consumption in the near future.

As a result, we need to be taking a serious and urgent look at our own consumption of coal and UNC’s carbon emissions. Climate legislation could start costing UNC millions of dollars if we aren’t prepared to transition away from coal as soon as possible.

The energy task force will be meeting through next semester, but it is crucial for students of the Coal-Free UNC Campaign to meet with Chancellor Holden Thorp now in order to discuss preliminary steps for moving beyond coal.

Thorp has repeatedly denied student requests to meet and discuss these issues. But the University needs to be taking rapid steps to make it possible to move away from coal, and that means sitting down and talking with students now.

UNC needs to reassert its position as a leader of environmental sustainability. That means Thorp needs to be making decisions now to keep Carolina ahead of the curve as new regulation elevates the environmental standards for UNC.



 Evan Baker
 Freshman
 Undecided