MSU can't afford to continue burning coal
The editorial “Moving beyond coal good idea, too costly” (SN 2/3) raises a very important point. We must consider the true cost of burning coal to Spartans and the state of Michigan. Moving away from coal is not only something that is good for the environment and public health, it’s something that we have to start doing right now for our pocketbooks as well.
The problem is, coal isn’t actually cheap. In fact, it is much more expensive than most of us realize. The National Research Council published a report analyzing the true cost of coal-fired power plants and found that damages from sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter cost taxpayers approximately $156 million per plant a year. That accounts for a total of $62 billion a year in hidden costs nationwide.
These estimates also don’t include the real cost of coal on our health. Coal is directly linked to public health problems including asthma attacks, heart disease and lung disease. According to the Clean Air Task Force, coal-fired power plants in the U.S cause 21,000 hospitalizations, 38,000 heart attacks and 24,000 deaths per year. Furthermore, these coal plants are one of the largest sources of man-made mercury pollution in our country, which contaminate our fish as well as our bodies. Mercury pollution causes brain damage, mental retardation and other developmental problems in unborn children and infants. One in six women of childbearing age has mercury levels in her blood high enough to put her baby at risk. All of these public health problems, in addition to being unjust and unnecessary, have a price tag associated with them, and it is the state of Michigan that is footing the bill — money that could and should be spent instead on our education system.
Not only is coal harming our public health, it is also contributing to the deteriorating health of our planet. Coal contaminates our water, air and land at every step of the process: from mining it with mountaintop removal practices to burning it in our on-campus coal plant to disposing of the toxic coal ash around the state. Furthermore, a recent report by the International Energy Agency states that every year the world fails to take serious action to stop global warming adds another $500 billion to eventual cost. Unless we prefer to bankrupt our global economy, we must act now.
In calculating the price of coal on campus, we must consider its true costs, future regulations and finally that it is a nonrenewable resource. Coal is finite and some estimates suggest that it will peak in 2025. How “cheap” will burning this outdated energy source be then? We must act in foresight and abandon the myth that remaining on coal is cheap, because it simply is not.
In times of challenge we have called upon universities to lead the country. It is our responsibility here at MSU to help build the clean energy economy and not allow outdated coal technology to harm our health, environment and economy.
Some universities already are stepping up to the plate. Ball State University in Indiana showed their commitment to clean energy by transitioning off coal and building the largest geothermal facility in the country — and they are already saving $2 million a year. As recently as a few weeks ago, Cornell University in New York announced its commitment to move beyond coal by 2011. It is time for us at MSU to do the same.
MSU has taken important first steps, including our commitments to lower our greenhouse gas emissions 6 percent by this year and 15 percent by 2020. But this isn’t enough. We are already paying the heavy cost of coal with our checkbooks, our health and our environment. Moving beyond coal is an investment in our clean energy economy and our future. Going green means saving some green too. Go Spartan Green!
Emanuele Berry,
RCAH and journalism sophomore and MSU Beyond Coal media coordinator
02/08/10 @ 12:48am
MSU is one of only seven universities to be part of the Chicago Climate Exchange, which is North America’s only cap and trade system for all greenhouse gases.
Lately, many people have stated their desire for MSU to eliminate the use of carbon for energy production but that is something that is not viable right now due to the costs and the budget restrictions.
Besides, if people want a change they should do like the group that proposed the recycling center. Make a realistic plan and make a presentation to the Board of Trustees.
02/08/10 @ 1:17am
Learn more about why we should move beyond coal and what you can do on our website: my link
Go Green! Go coal free!
02/08/10 @ 3:43pm
@MSU Beyond Coal: I did go to your website, but could not find any solution-oriented offerings. Just a lot of discourse on how to help support the “call for the transition of Michigan State University away from coal…”
It’s awful easy to find problems with most anything. How about putting as much energy in proposing and deeply analyzing cost-effective solutions as you do in talking about how bad coal is? (Especially including an honest assessment of all costs and reliability, especially under the currently unrealistic umbrella of “100% clean and renewable energy sources.”)
Also, while I can’t dispute the assertions that coal has hidden costs, if you are honest in your assessment, “not coal” also has hidden costs.
Your passion is commendable; it would be even more impressive if you were doing more than only criticizing the current mode.
02/08/10 @ 3:55pm
Peak Coal?
Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!
Not in the next 100 years, at a minumum.
It took about ten seconds to find the cost of the Ball State geothermal project: $70 million.
And the $2 million expected annual savings is only expected after the project is FULLY completed, not “already” saved as the author states.
That means a 35-year payback on this project.
Tired of coal?
Fire up those nuke plants.
Don’t try to con us with windmills and solar.
02/08/10 @ 4:02pm
MaximumBob couldn’t have said it any better. He has my vote! Nuclear powerplants are the way to go!!!! I have read his arguments on this subject and I just have to tell everyone that he knows what he is talking about.
02/08/10 @ 8:25pm
Once again, the State News has posted an anti-coal editorial that has no viable alternative energy solution.
I agree that coal is not a clean fuel. I’ve been in a coal power plant. I’ve also been around coal-fired ships, steam locomotives, and even antique steam tractors. The smoke and exhaust reeks of sulfur. It’s bad for your health, and the fly ash is a menacing dust that gets everywhere.
I’m all for a cleaner energy. BUT…. What is your alternative? Particularly in East Lansing?
Solar? In one of the cloudiest cities in the country? Good luck with that.
Wind? You’d have to cover the entire campus with windmills. Don’t forget your hard hats in the winter between classes with the ice & snow falling off the windmill blades.
Water? Okay, let’s build a dam on the Red Cedar River. Oops – we flooded out a bunch of the campus and now we have a wetland to protect. But hey – now we can light up the student section of Spartan Stadium with those ‘energy friendly’ light bulbs that contain MERCURY.
Natural Gas? Sure. But keep in mind, it’s still one of those evil fossil fuels that supposedly contributes to global warming.
Nuclear? I’m for it. But where do you want to build it? I know! Let’s raze the old MSC power plant, put a cooling tower there, and paint a big mural of Sparty on the side. Or maybe Homer Simpson eating a chunk of chocolate cheese from The Dairy Store.
Alternative energy options will not occur simply by serendipity. The technology to completely replace coal… Pound-For-Pound… isn’t here yet. It will likely take a few more generations to figure out, and a whole lot of research dollars. Moreover, in our current economy, alternative energy is way down the country’s list of problems to fix.
In the meantime, burn that Powder River Basin coal. Thousands of college students all over the country need to use their George Foreman grills and recharge their iPhones.
02/09/10 @ 5:10pm
Let’s Talk Transition.
I am working with MSU and student groups to put on a community workshop and dialogue about MSU’s energy future on February 24th from 6-9 p.m.
Location T.B.D.
We are focusing on what this decade will mean for MSU and energy on campus.
Let me know if you want to get involved: knightb3@msu.edu