Carolyn Stoughton

Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas

My reflective essay will be centered around Penn State’s switch from coal to natural gas. I

think this is an important topic to research considering that I am a Penn State student and it

directly impacts the air I breathe as well as the environment I live in. I didn’t realize all of the

harmful effects that originate from the use of coal until I read in Smil (2006) about acid rain and

the extreme amount of CO2 that is emitted when coal is burned. The switch to natural gas helps

us become a more sustainable and healthy university. However, I think it is essential that I look

at the reasons Penn State switched, their current goals, and the possible consequences of using

natural gas.

Coal has multiple negative effects on the environment, which is a large part as to why

Penn State decided not to use it. When coal is burned, it releases sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon

dioxide. The produced sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain, which can cause respiratory

illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma. When the emitted nitrogen mixes with oxygen in the air,

nitrogen oxides are created. Nitrogen oxides are large contributors to smog, which is known to

cause vulnerability to illnesses such as pneumonia and influenza (Union of Concerned Scientists,

2017). Additionally, burning coal involves “mercury and other heavy metals, which have been

linked to both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals” (Energy

Information Administration, 2019, para. 7). Coal also releases carbon dioxide and methane when

burned, thickening the atmosphere and contributing to global climate change. Not only is the

burning of coal a large problem, but so is its transportation. In State College, about 3,250 trucks

were used for transporting coal every year, releasing harmful pollutants into the air (Klodowski,

2017). These effects threatened the health and safety of living creatures and the environment in

State College.
Carolyn Stoughton
Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas
While the environmental effects contributed to Penn State’s decision to switch from coal

to natural gas, there were also other factors that went into the decision. Firstly, natural gas has

become cheaper than coal, making it economically beneficial to switch fuels. Penn State also

needed to comply with the Boiler MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) by 2016.

This federal regulation mandated the minimization of pollutants emitted from boilers and

heaters. By switching to natural gas, Penn State is emitting less pollutants than coal, especially

carbon dioxide, helping them meet the federal standard. Penn State’s system will also be more

efficient. According to Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant (n.d.), Penn State’s system was

72% efficient in 2011, but after the switch was completed, it would be better than 80% efficient.

These reasons caused Penn state to develop a multi-faceted, strategic plan to replace coal

with natural gas. Penn State’s goal is to have a 35% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020, and

an 85% reduction by 2050. The original purpose of the goal was to meet the federal requirements

of the Boiler MACT by 2016, but Penn State expanded their goal to increase their sustainability.

The primary way that Penn State plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions is by replacing

coal with natural gas. As will be expanded on later in the paper, natural gas emits far less carbon

dioxide than coal, therefore causing a reduction in greenhouse gases. In the below graph, Penn

State’s emission goals are visually displayed. As can be seen from the graph, the greenhouse gas

emissions decreased from about 400,000 mtCO2e when the project started in 2013 to about

325,000 mtCO2e when the university eliminated their use of coal in 2016 (Penn State, 2017).

This shows that their efforts are paying off, resulting in a lower amount of carbon dioxide being

emitted. Penn State’s plan also includes renovating their West Campus Steam Plant to make it

compatible with natural gas, building a natural gas pipeline, and building a new Steam Services

Building (Penn State, 2013).

Carolyn Stoughton
Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas

There are many benefits to switching to natural gas. The primary benefit is the reduction

in greenhouse gases emitted. According to Lueken, Klima, Griffin, & Apt (2016), “Natural gas

power plants typically emit 50%-60% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal plants due to their

higher efficiency and lower carbon content of their fuel” (p. 1160). Penn State believes that the

switch to natural gas will result in a 37% reduction in carbon dioxide that it emits. This emission

will help Penn State meet the federal requirements mandated by the Boiler MACT, as well as be

more sustainable. It will also have benefits to people’s health, minimizing the negative health

effects from burning coal, like various respiratory diseases. While it will not have a major impact

on the increasing global temperature, it will lower the amount of CO2 that is released into the

atmosphere, therefore providing less insulation to the Earth.

The cleaner emissions from natural gas is the major reason for using it over other

alternatives; however, the process of drilling natural gas, commonly known as fracking, is one of

the major drawbacks of using it. Penn State (2013) states, “ Only greenhouse gases produced at
Carolyn Stoughton
Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas
the plant have been factored into the [project’s] analysis,” not taking into account the greenhouse

emissions that result from fracking. Methane is the main greenhouse gas that is released when

fracking for natural gas. Sometimes natural gas spills can occur, causing methane to be released

into the atmosphere: about 32% of U.S. methane emissions resulted from natural gas leaks in

2015 (Energy Information Administration, 2018). While it is possible to avoid natural gas leaks

using new technologies, these technologies themselves are producing pollutants that affect the

environment.

Fracking also has other environmental effects that need to be considered. When

companies drill and install pipelines, they are distributing local ecosystems, “causing erosion and

fragmenting wildlife habitats and migration patterns” (Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d., para.

7). Fracking and drilling also has the possibility of contaminating water. Chemicals from

fracking, as well as methane, can mix with groundwater, which can contaminate drinking water.

Most of the time this is caused by wells and pipelines that are improperly constructed (Union of

Concerned Scientists, n.d.). In the case of Stacey in Amity and Prosperity, there was sludge in

her water filter, meaning that this sludge was contaminating the water they drank, as well as the

water used for dishes, showering, and washing (Griswold, 2018). Not only is water

contaminated, but it is also used abundantly. Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.) says that “a

single well with horizontal drilling can require 3 million to 12 million gallons of water when it is

first fractured” ( para. 17). This a large amount of water that is being used to drill for natural gas.

Penn State is taking a step in the right direction by replacing coal with natural gas, but I

believe they need to continue making progress to further reduce their environmental impact.

While natural gas is a cleaner process and does not emit as much carbon dioxide, the effects that

occur from fracking have detrimental consequences for the surrounding areas. In the future, I
Carolyn Stoughton
Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas
hope to see Penn State use more renewable resources. Penn State needs to provide a large

amount of energy to its campus, making it costly for Penn State to use these energy options.

However, as new technologies are developed, renewable energies will hopefully be considered a

viable option for powering Penn State University.

Carolyn Stoughton
Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas
References

Energy Information Administration. (2018). Natural gas and the environment. Retrieved from

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=natural_gas_environment

Energy Information Administration. (2019). Coal and the environment. Retrieved from

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=coal_environment

Griswold, E. (2018). Amity and prosperity: One family and the fracturing of America. New

York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Klodowski, K. (2017). One year later: Reflecting on Penn State’s switch from coal to natural gas.

Retrieved from https://news.psu.edu/story/460837/2017/04/17/campus-life/one-year-

later-reflecting-penn-state%E2%80%99s-switch-coal-natural-gas

Lueken, R., Klima, K., Griffin, W. M., & Apt, J. (2016). The climate and health effects of a USA

switch from coal to gas electricity generation. Energy, 109, p.1160-1166.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.078

Novak, A. (2012). Why is Penn State switching from coal to natural gas to produce steam.

Retrieved from https://news.psu.edu/story/144618/2012/11/13/why-penn-state-switching-

coal-natural-gas-produce-steam

Penn State. (2013). Our energy future. Retrieved from http://sustainability.psu.edu/live/faculty-

researchers/energy-environment/our-energy-future

Penn State. (2017). Climate action. Retrieved from http://sustainability.psu.edu/climate-action

Penn State Office of the Physical Plant. (n.d). Energy. Retrieved from

https://opp.psu.edu/sustainability/energy

Smil, V. (2006). Energy: A beginner’s guide. Oxford, England: Oneworld Publications

Carolyn Stoughton
Penn State’s Switch to Natural Gas
Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d.). Environmental impacts of natural gas. Retrieved from

https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/coal-and-other-fossil-fuels/environmental-impacts-

of-natural-gas#references

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2017). Coal and air pollution. Retrieved from

https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/coal-and-other-fossil-fuels/coal-air-

pollution#.XGsaM-hKg2x