Coal consumption by educational institutions such as colleges and universities in the United States fell from 2 million short tons in 2008 to 700,000 short tons in 2015. Consumption declined in each of the 57 institutions that used coal in 2008, with 20 of these institutions no longer using coal at all. Many of these institutions participate in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Coal consumption has decreased as institutions switch from coal to natural gas or other fuels. Coal use at educational institutions is small, making up less than 0.1% of total coal consumption in 2015. But coal use at educational institutions has a long history. Many educational institutions used coal to produce their own electricity and heat as early as the 19th century, when access to […]