The climate is ever-changing and affects every aspect of our lives. From the weather, to crop growth and everything in between, the climate has an influence. Every effort to preserve the world’s climate counts.
One of Kirkwood Community College’s goals is its zero-emissions by 2040 initiative. This is part of the Climate Action Plan, an environmental sustainability plan created in partnership with a sustainability consult called the Verdis Group.
But with the recent news of Kirkwood’s plan to decommission the wind turbine in spring of 2025, it feels like we’re taking one giant step backward.
With the loss of the wind turbine, a question arises: Are Kirkwood’s current contributions still enough to achieve zero-emissions by 2040? It’s time for Kirkwood to consider implementing more renewable energy sources to replace the wind turbine.
Built in 2012, the wind turbine provided a big contribution to Kirkwood’s zero-emissions project by providing a third of the college’s electricity and power. The wind turbine was in use until 2023, when it was shut down due to upkeep costs.
Now, in spring of 2025, Kirkwood plans to fully decommission the wind turbine. We have not had a replacement energy source since the wind turbine stopped functioning, and Kirkwood has yet to publicly announce any replacements.
Kirkwood has other programs in place for its zero-emissions plan. Some of these efforts include the sustainability village, recycling bins across campus, composting, geothermal heating and cooling, the sustainability club and more.
While the efforts that Kirkwood have taken to limit emissions are substantial and beneficial, that doesn’t mean there isn’t more to be done.
According to Generation180, a climate advocacy group, the average school facility emits 72 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. This is equivalent to the emissions of 8.6 million homes. By finding a replacement for the wind turbine, Kirkwood can drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Kirkwood isn’t the only campus striving toward sustainability and zero-emission initiatives. The University of Washington in Seattle gets 90% of its electricity from local hydropower sources and only 1% of electricity is from coal sources.
The University of Connecticut produces more “eco-citizens” with every graduating class by offering 300 undergraduate and 111 graduate courses in environmental education. Seventy percent of University of Connecticut students graduate with some education on sustainability.
The University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh has a “biodigester” which turns manure and other compost into 20% of the campus’ needed energy to heat their buildings.
These are just a few examples of ways that other college campuses are excelling at sustainability. We need a new renewable energy source to contribute clean energy to Kirkwood’s campus.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to sustainability: Kirkwood could further invest in solar panels, hydropower, wind power, or bioenergy to help reach their zero-emissions goal by 2040.
Students are eagerly waiting for the news on the next clean energy source for Kirkwood. Every single effort toward sustainability is important, and renewable energy for Kirkwood would be one giant leap forward to preserving our Earth.
Categories: Opinion, Staff Editorials
