SGA Sustainability Committee Fossil Fuel Rally 4/29

Join the SGA Sustainability Committee this Friday, 3pm-5pm on April 29th in a rally to push the university to commit to being fully decarbonized by 2035! Did you know that the University of Maryland, College Park campus is run on a 27 MW natural gas power plant on Baltimore Ave? The plant is a combined heating & power (CHP) system, which uses the steam produced when gas is burned to heat buildings across campus. The plant emits around 125,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. This fossil fuel plant makes us the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide in the state government.

Currently, the university plans to renew the plant, and is accepting proposals for the University to decarbonize by 2035 or 2050. This selection process is called NextGen. In the 15 years between 2035 and 2050, at our current rate of emissions, the University would emit an additional 1,875,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere if we chose a 2050 proposal. That is why they are urging the University of Maryland to select a proposal that would decarbonize campus by 2035.

Join them this Friday, April 29th in a rally to push the university to commit to being fully decarbonized by 2035. They'll start at the steps of McKeldin Library, make signs, send emails and calls to the administration, listen to a handful of speeches, and then end by walking .5miles to the power plant on Route 1 (7743 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740). Check out their website to learn more and sign their petition! https://fossilfreeumd.wixsite.com/nextgen/about-the-plant