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