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
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
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
please reply to Anna Duquaine (email@example.com), indicating you
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.