Slippery Rock University Plant

The Slippery Rock University in Pennyslvania has a heating plant that supplies steam for heat and hot water to the campus, including residence halls.

In November 2009, University President Robert Smith signed the "American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment" saying, “Slippery Rock University is committed to helping lead the region in reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases, starting with our own campus.” The University is currently developing its Strategic Plan for reducing emissions through the year 2025, including using less coal and installing a baghouse at the heating plant to remove fly ash from the exhaust before it goes up the stack into the air.

On Nov. 3, 2010, a civil claim was brought against SRU by the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming the boiler plant was emitting visible emissions beyond legal limits. In response, SRU agreed to add a baghouse to the plant. Director of Facilities Scott Albert said the decision to add the baghouse was financial, as SRU couldn't afford the switch to burning only natural gas because of budget cuts and national economic issues. Albert said the operating cost of Slippery Rock University's boiler plant would increase by at least $750,000 per year if it switched from burning coal to natural gas.

In the fiscal year 2010, SRU spent almost $3 million on coal, electricity and natural gas. SRU's boiler plant is used for heating purposes. Coal is burned to create steam, which heats water and buildings on about 95 percent of campus. The plant also burns natural gas, especially in the summer when the demand for heat isn't as high. SRU is one of the last 60 colleges in the U.S. with an on-campus coal burning facility.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Campus coal plants
 * Existing U.S. Coal Plants
 * Opposition to existing coal plants
 * Coal
 * Coal and jobs
 * Coal-fired power plant capacity and generation
 * Coal phase-out
 * Coal plant conversion projects
 * Coal plants near residential areas

External resources

 * Anne C. Mulkern, "Colleges Are Battlegrounds for Coal Fight," Greenwire, October 14, 2009.
 * Campuses Beyond Coal Campaign, Sierra Club, September 2009.
 * "DOE Announces Winners of Annual University Coal Research Grants," July 7, 2005.
 * American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment