The comprehensive plan is 186 pages documenting about three years of work that a 24-person steering committee put into the plan. The committee — comprised of Office of Campus Sustainability members, students and members of various campus departments — has put years of work in to the transition, and it is assuring to see MSU have a solid plan for the future.

Student groups, such as MSU Beyond Coal, had a voice in the committee. Even though they might not be happy with the timeline of the plan, the student body as a whole should trust the committee to make plans that are in the best interest of both the university and the environment.

The plan’s main goals include improving the physical environment, investing in sustainable energy research and development and making MSU an educational leader in sustainable energy. The ETP proves that the committee is dedicated to their goal and has taken a firm stance on what they hope to accomplish for the university: a cleaner environment for students.

The committee hopes to explore different options, which is a reasonable tactic when working with renewable energy. Jennifer Battle, assistant director of the Office of Campus Sustainability, said the university must remain open-minded when envisioning the future because new, cheap technologies constantly are being developed.

With the university exploring solar, wind and fuel cells, among others, MSU will be able to find the most efficient way to achieve its goals outlined in the ETP: 15 percent renewable energy by 2015 and 40 percent renewable energy by 2030.

While the plan is not the most aggressive, it is the most tactical.

The committee already has made improvements to the university in the past few years; because of decreased coal burning, carbon dioxide emissions from the power plant have dropped about 17 percent from 2006-10, according to the Physical Plant’s website. If the committee has shown a recent trend of improving the environment, the university should have faith in the committee’s ability to achieve its long-term plan.

It’s encouraging and reassuring to see the committee is concerned about the cost the ETP could have on students and using it as a determining factor in decision making. Although the potential high costs of energy could increase tuition, Lynda Boomer, an energy and environmental engineer at the MSU Physical Plant, said

tuition would not go up if the ETP is followed through correctly. By being cost-efficient, the university simultaneously improves the welfare of students without charging them for it.
This plan is the first major step the university has taken toward 100 percent renewable energy, making it a nicer, cleaner place for students.