Virginia Tech is a leading research institution, and yet we still rely on fossil fuels instead of investing in long-term energy sources. As a sophomore here at Tech, I strongly believe that it is time to transition away from coal and instead move toward renewable energy.
The process of burning coal is devastating to the environment as well as to human health, and we should lead the movement to switch to cleaner energy.
When I came to Tech last year, I was (naively) appalled to learn that our school had a campus plant that burned 420,000 tons of coal a year. I began researching coal mining, particularly mountaintop removal. This process removes the top layer of mountains to expose coal seams and dumps the terrain, called “valley fill,” into surrounding valleys, often burying headwater streams.
I was greatly disturbed by this, and I had to see for myself. I traveled to several mining sites to see if these claims were exaggerated. What I saw left me in complete dismay — entire mountains had been destroyed. What had once been a thriving mountainous ecosystem was now a barren landscape. I was shocked that this had been going on in my backyard without my knowing.
One of the most nauseating experiences I had was seeing fluorescent-colored ponds of wastewater. Water is not supposed to be orange. It’s not supposed to be neon green, either. These unnatural colors are caused by metals like iron and manganese, which leach into streams from valley fill. Streams like these are the sources of drinking water for Appalachian communities.
Obviously, not all mining sites are as polluted as this, but many are. This represents only one step in the coal life cycle, and there are others such as public health. Coal is a cheap and obtainable energy source, but it’s not necessarily the only one. We should research alternatives such as biomass, wind and geothermal sources of energy that could be applied to our campus.
While I am proud to be a Hokie, it saddens and embarrasses me that our school continues to support this practice by burning coal on our campus. Because of what I’ve seen, I feel compelled to ensure that our school transitions off coal. Virginia Tech is a top research institution, and we have the means to find alternatives. In this crucial moment, I hope our leaders, including President Charles Steger, recognize the importance of moving toward cleaner energy.
Chrissy Barton
Sophomore
Equine science
A version of this article appeared in the Mar 4 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Good luck tripling energy prices in these economic times. Also it would behoove you to not just regurgitate everything you've read on mountain justice sites and act like you are suddenly an expert. Have you talked to a mining engineer about mining processes? Did you ask the companies to show you around the mine site and explain what was going on? I doubt it.
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Hi Chris,
As a part of a weekend's worth of events called "Bright Ideas: A Weekend Investigating Coal and Virginia's Energy Future" hosted by the Sustainability Committee within the SGA and a coalition of other organizations we're going to do just that. If youll like, on March 28th you can join us to hear from Larry Gibson at his mountain in West Virginia. Weve been calling Patriot Coal regularly to try and see if they can provide our group a tour on that day so we can hear from both sides of the issue.
On Friday March 26th we're also hosting a debate on the issue of coal with students, professors and experts on either side. Then on Saturday March 27th we're hosting a panel with state experts-- we've invited Dominion Power, General Electric, Stephen Walz (Director of the VA Department of Mining, Minerals and Energy), Congressman Boucher, Delegate Kilgore, the Sierra Club, and Patriot Coal (we might go for Massey also).
Chris, I hope you can come out and contribute to the conversation with these events.
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Unfortunately Bryce I am an alumni in Ohio, but thanks for the invite. I know that your groups and other clean energy groups have held forums inviting open discussion. My comment was solely meant for the individuals who take information your types of groups pass out, and never look at the other side or attend these seminars/forums themselves.
I attended two open forums (about 18 people) that we (MINE) held with Mountain Justice and would have liked to attend a forum similar to yours where the people are less extreme and more open minded.
Sorry for not clarifying my meaning and coming across as I did!
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What would they have told her, Chris? That the neon green water flowing into the river was actually a safe substance? Those guys would probably tell you it's BENEFICIAL if it meant padding their quarterly reports. Mining engineers at VT are taught by professors who receive lots of money from the coal industry. There is an inherent bias when you ask someone whose major is coal mining if coal mining is a bad choice. Bottom line, coal is a dirty, old source of energy. The University would be well served to transition away from this source, perhaps by purchasing the wind power from the proposed poor mountain wind farm 18 miles away. They could supplement the load profile by fueling the VT electric plant with natural gas, a much cleaner fossil fuel. Good article, Chrissy.
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Funny because I didn't realize coal mining was what my degree was in. My diploma says Mining Engineering, and I currently work in an open pit limestone mine serving asphault and concrete stone here in north Ohio. I was never interested in the coal side of things.
I am intelligent enough however to look at the arguments proposed and see that, unfortunately, the public is extremely misinformed about mining. To be honest I have no idea what this neon green is and it probably isn't legal. I fully support calling out the mine if what they are doing isn't legal, but if they are within legal limits then don't attack the mine attack the law.
If you rally and get the law changed, more power to you. Coal is cheap, therefore coal energy is cheap. When wind/solar/etc. is able to feasibly replace coal, I'm all for it (Surprised?). Just because people work in a mine does not mean they hate the environment, and the professors at Tech are not evil coal profit mongers. Have you talked to any of them about what they are doing? Again I doubt it.
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Funny Jay, funny. Would you agree that a tree hugger also has a biased opinion since they learn from other tree huggers who get their money from tree huggers?
Bias doesn't go one way thats why you have to talk to BOTH sides before drawing a conclusion, which is what Chris was saying before you vehemently attacked him.
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I'm all for this if you can keep me employed with the same health insurance and pay. I mean, my family still has to eat and go to the doctor. Would that still happen if wind replaces coal? I doubt it.
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Therein lies one of the biggest problems of transitioning to new energies. I want you to have a job and keep your kids fed - I have a child of my own and I have the same concerns you do. However, I think people in your position need to look to the future. I'd suggest keeping an eye out for jobs in other lines of work, or perhaps learning more about the new technologies that replace yours. I know that finding a new job isn't easy these days, but arming yourself with more education/certifications/knowledge is always a good first step. In the end I think it comes down to this: Is it better to go down with the ship or find a lifeboat?
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It doesn't matter if I leave my mining job; someone else will take it, therefore leaving the same number of people employed at that mine site and me without a job. Sounds like a great plan to me.
Oh, and you want me to pay more money so I can get a job that pays less? Tell you what, if you pay for another four (or more) years of college for me, I will change jobs.
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One potential solution that should be looked at is transitioning coal workers over to maintaining the turbines/solar cells or whatever apparatuses that accompany the newer energy production technology.
Again, Mr. Miner, I'm just saying look toward the future. Not tomorrow, say five or ten years. Sometimes you've gotta take a step back in order to take two or three steps forward. I don't claim to know your personal situation, but nothing that's worthwhile is ever easy. If you want to be in a good place work-wise in 15 years, figure out the steps it'll take to get there and start taking those steps.
The simple fact is that coal and oil are not the energies of the future. The renewable ones are. I'm not a big fan of shutting down coal and oil right now all at once because obviously my wallet will take as big a hit as anyone's. But small steps in that direction lead to a big change over time, and at some point that technology is going to be cheaper than it is now and it will be worth it for everyone.
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Fear not my young Coal Miner. The messiah has arrived and he bringeth green jobs for all!!! From where you might ask? Why from the green jobs tree that majically manifests green jobs from nothing. Worry not that these alternative energy sources lack the efficiency and affordability of coal. And please don't trouble yourself with the inevitable increase in energy prices. His Holiness will pay your bills too! Perhaps the Messiah could use somebody to oversee this majical creation of green jobs ... a czar if you will. Oh wait, I already tried that. Shucks.
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Well since everybody else just tacks green onto their products (green water bottles for an extra 25 cents really!??) I will start a new initiative and turn all coal products into GREEN COAL. The extremist sheep who are so easily wooed by this simple word will not even realize what happened and move along to hug the next tree.
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Anybody have a copy of the classifieds?
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I have taught course units on sustainable energy for several years at Tech. While I like your notion and desire to support sustainable energy, I would have to say that given current economic crises in Virginia it is not the time to make the transition. Power plants of any kind are very expensive to build. Further, where would Tech place a new power plant while the current power plant is being replaced? There are many logistics and financial concerns overlooked in this letter.
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The Virginia Tech power plant would not have to be replaced in order to stop burning coal, only modified. It already cofires biomass along with with coal. Additionally, the coal boilers are due to be replaced in the next 20 years- this would be the opportune time to make the change.
Also, realize that there isn't room to address every related concern in a short letter.
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Virginia Tech is currently in the process of converting to natural gas. We have (iirc) two gas burners and three coal burners. I ask someone connected to the power plant what the price difference is between coal and natural gas is; natural gas is roughly twice as expensive per amount of heat generated (which is the main use).
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I'm sure if someone wants to pay for the multi-million dollar renovations and the increased fuel price, they wouldn't complain about making the change. But with the state in a budget crunch, asking someone to make an incredibly expensive change that benefits little but the environment is asking for something you'll never get.
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Also, if you're going to go after someone, go after someone that actually burns a significant amount. Tech burns around 1500 tons/month with a capacity of around 50kW. AEP has the capacity to use up to 2.67 million tons/month, and their generation capacity is 38 gW. In other words, we're on the order of 1.3x10^-6 of AEP. We're statistically insignificant.
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