As Americans, the essential question of our historical moment is not "Can we solve the energy challenge?" but "Will it be America that solves it?"
Our country is stocked with the most innovative researchers, the best-positioned financiers and a powerful manufacturing infrastructure ready to take up the abundance of economic activity a green energy revolution would spur. Ultimately, we must rely on government to implement policies ensuring Americans will enjoy the promise of a truly green energy economy. If our administrators drag their feet on renewable energy, we could very well miss the boat and find ourselves importing clean energy technology from China, cursing the jobs and benefits we squandered.
A microcosm of America, Miami University is faced with a similar historical moment. It is a university with a significant energy challenge. Most of the school is powered by outdated and dangerous coal plants, one of which lurks in a residential region of campus. As in the country more broadly, the problem at Miami is not one of technological know how. Miami is internationally known for its brilliant scientists, academics and researchers, many of whom already tackle America's energy challenge in their classrooms and labs. Nor is the problem one of ignorance, for Miami teaches its students about the devastating implications of climate change even as the furnaces on Western Campus burn another ton of coal. Finally, the problem is not a lack of available resources, as a newly installed small scale geothermal installation in Upham Hall demonstrates.
As in America, the problem at Miami is one of will. Will the university enact a policy enabling the transition away from dirty and outdated coal power? Will Miami innovate our way to global energy leadership, or will we fall behind our peer institutions who are already committing to 100 percent clean energy portfolios? Will our unfortunate coal plant continue to pollute the air and keep Miami in the past long after leaders like Cornell have reached their renewable energy goals?
President Hodge, we encourage you to lead Miami beyond the coal power of 1809 and into the clean energy future of the 21st century. The institution has a long tradition of innovation, of problem solving, and Miami University has a crucial role to play in our country's larger energy transition. It is time for Miami to put the brilliant research and technical know how into practice, and to train engineers, scientists and mathematicians for their roles in the future energy workforce. Miami must aspire to be an institution powered completely and exclusively by clean, renewable energy. Please act now so that Miami and America can be global clean energy leaders, not followers.
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