At the University of Kentucky, students protested the university’s coal-fired power plant by climbing atop the coal stockpile, and raising giant wind turbines. Raising a mock wind turbine on top of the UK power plant’s coal fuel pile was designed to show the futility and myopic vision of the University’s current energy policy. While  happy to learn that UK does not use coal from mountaintop removal sites, the State of Kentucky’s flagship university is a fossil fool and it must demonstrate leadership and a far-thinking approach to its energy sourcing and usage.

 

April is Earth Month, and as students of the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community and Technical College we are obliged to point out the areas where our public institutions need improvement.

 

Given the gravity and immediacy of global warming as a preeminent issue of our lifetimes, we believe that the University of Kentucky’s continued reliance on coal should be lambasted, and what better way to do so than in the spirit of April Fool’s Day?

 

Raising a mock wind turbine on top of the UK power plant’s coal fuel pile was designed to show the futility and myopic vision of the University’s current energy policy. While we are happy to learn that UK does not use coal from mountaintop removal sites, the State of Kentucky’s flagship university is a fossil fool and it must demonstrate leadership and a far-thinking approach to its energy sourcing and usage.

 

Fossil fuel use is unequivocally bad for the environment at large, as well as all of its denizens; however, it is through obstacles of our own making that we continue on this short-sighted and harmful path. Kentucky needs to rethink the destruction of its mountains and its coal use, and groups like the Energy Action Coalition, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, UK Greenthumb, and The University of Transylvania’s TERRA are great leaders and resources for those wishing to become educated or involved.

 

We wish everyone a Happy Earth Month, invite everyone to UK’s Earth Day Fair Tuesday April 22nd, and look forward to a continuing dialogue to meet the concerns and needs of everyone here in our great state.

 

Cordially,
Concerned Students and Citizens

 

Ukgreenthumb@googlegroups.com