by Howard Myers

Reprinted from Peaceways, the newsletter of the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice.

On Sept. 15 Bob Koester of Ball State University spoke at the University of Kentucky, describing his school’s transformation from burning coal to becoming a geothermal energy driven campus. Their geothermal project is the centerpiece of Ball State's commitment to being carbon neutral by 2030, demonstrating how a modern-day research university adapts to today's energy climate.

For the number crunchers, Koester described how to finance this transformation by leveraging endowment dollars, industry grants, and state and federal dollars. That investment is paying dividends at multiple levels:  for example, once implemented, the geothermal system will save $2 million annually.

Also, major energy businesses are partnering with Ball State, drawn by the university’s commitment to sustainability. And the university’s curriculum prepares their students for jobs in the green economy.

Each month students, staff, community members, faculty, and the president meet as a committee of 30 to assess progress toward their 2030 goal. Demonstrating sustainability of another kind, today the students, faculty, and community drive an effort that began with the leadership of the university’s administration. Ensuring a sustainable future makes Ball State a very good neighbor indeed: the region is getting positive quality of life reviews because of that vision and initial leadership.

I left the presentation convinced that the UK Administration and Board of Trustees now have a blueprint. The question is: do they have the courage to embrace a carbon neutral future?