“The ’20s are back! The 1820’s, that is,” said one student.
Photo by Dylan Schmidt
Last week, UC San Diego reaffirmed its continued commitment to protecting the climate and developing climate solutions by announcing that the cogeneration plant in the campus’ Theatre District would transition into a coal burning power plant. “We are excited to support the American energy industry and our glorious economy even further with this endeavor,” said Chancellor Khosla at a press conference. When asked about the potential worsening smog and pollution for La Jolla and UCSD residents, Khosla responded, “Children need clean coal energy reliability in order to learn, do you know how hard it is to keep the lights running year-round in this place? Clean Coal will fix all our problems, without the mess of methane.” During the conference’s Q&A panel, Khosla answered how this altered power plant will be good for the environment: “Well methane fracking is bad for the environment, leading to the decimation of nature. Not having to do that anymore would save the natural world.”
Many community members had hoped that the aging cogeneration plant would be replaced with rooftop solar panels, which studies have shown are more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than either coal or methane. For others, the announcement “simply came out of left field.” A week prior, Jonathan Completely, an expert on the Chancellor’s bank deposits, stated that the Chancellor had just received $2 billion in donations from both coal companies and coal advocacy groups. These groups have since explained that they were “just helping out our old pal, with totally no strings attached.”
Some environmental groups on campus have given the decision some pushback. Charlie Glaucky, Vice President of Students for a Green Planet, stated, “I just don’t see a future for climate justice when our educational leaders are only motivated by whichever way the money is flowing.” Glaucky was unable to give further comment when he suddenly left to attend a free giveaway in Revelle.
In response to the backlash, Khosla has attempted to spin the decision as an environmental move: “I hear that methane is 28 times more potent at warming the atmosphere than CO2, we are literally saving the environment by transitioning back to good old reliable carbon,” he said at a subsequent conference. “Not only are we creating good, clean American jobs with this transition, but we are supporting the coal industry as a whole.” Khosla was witnessed tearing up. “I think it’s really beautiful, how we can all come together to help our great American economy.”
