Hutton Honors College

The Coal Truth

Tour of the IU Coal Plant

Wednesday, February 29, 4:00-5:15 p.m.
IU Central Heating Plant
820 N. Walnut Grove Ave., which faces 11th Street between Fee Lane and Walnut Grove
SIGN-UP REQUIRED

A coal plant on campus? What does this mean for energy use, efficiency, and dependency? Burning coal is one of the principal ways the nation generates electricity, but it is also one of the primary causes of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the environmental impacts of coal are greater than those of any other fuel source. However, we often fail to consider this in our daily energy use-whether in classrooms or at home.

Start the journey towards understanding your energy-consumption impact with a tour of the IU Central Heating Plant. Mark Menefee, assistant director of utilities for the plant, will lead the tour and a follow up discussion to answer any student questions. (The IU Central Heating plant is noted for its work in researching ways to remove carbon dioxide from flue gas, or exhaust emitted in the combustion of coal. The current focus of the project is to select superior strains of algae that will best remediate flue gas, which can then be converted into methane gas and biocrude oil.)

There are many implications that come with having a coal-based central heating plant on campus, and despite improvements made to the plant in recent years to reduce emissions, it remains a heavily debated topic. Here's your chance to be informed!

SIGN-UP INFO: If you are interested in attending this event, please reply to Anna Duquaine (aduquain@indiana.edu), indicating you wish to sign up for the "coal plant tour," and include your name, e-mail address, year in school, and field(s) of study. Space is limited so we will let you know by e-mail if a space was available when you replied.

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