One Ohio University student is not happy with the university's fossil fuel usage.
Fellow Bobcats and Athenians,
We find ourselves at a critical point in time, one where Ohio University administrators have a decision to make that is imperative to the health and livelihood of anyone associated with this region. The legacy of coal and the booming, but destructive, natural gas industry have shaped this area for as long as Westerners have settled here. Along with the ties to these industries, the university currently relies on power from electric companies who offer a competitive rate due to their reliance on fossil fuels. The unfortunate consequence of fossil fuel combustion to our air quality is undeniably detrimental to the residents of our community and the world at large. Given this, it is apparent to me and many other faculty, students and community members that we must change how we generate electricity at this university.
Ohio University has a decision coming this fall to renew current or seek new contracts with electrical companies. Unfortunately, because of confidentiality clauses, I cannot tell you specifically which companies have made bids to provide electricity. Nevertheless, if you wish to show this school, community and country that our health, as humans, should be at the forefront of decision making, I urge you to call (email or tweet) Joseph Lalley and encourage him to further review the options provided by renewable energy companies that are on the list of request for qualifications. I will be working closely with faculty, staff and students to try and get this decision in our favor. We must unite as a community that can envision a cleaner more sustainable future to see that the decisions made by the university reflect actions that consider our health and the health of future generations is preserved.
Alex Burke is a first-year graduate student studying environmental studies.
