UO Just Secretly Increased Fossil Fuel Emissions
The University of Oregon boilers were already the LARGEST single source of fossil fuel emissions in all of Eugene–and they just INCREASED emissions by 65%*. STOP THE BOILER PILOT PROGRAM!
Why take climate action:
With the federal government exiting the Paris Climate Agreement, declaring a “national energy emergency” to expand the oil and gas system, passing a slew of anti-climate Executive Orders, and preparing for other attacks on climate and environmental justice policy, it is more important than ever that local institutions like the UO reduce their green house gas (GHG) emissions by rapidly transitioning off of fossil fuels.
Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-04 "calls for the state of Oregon to reduce its GHG emissions at least 45% below 1990 emissions levels by 2035."
UO has committed to net neutrality by 2050 and to upholding the emissions reduction goals outlined in the Paris Accords.
The City of Eugene’s Climate Recovery Ordinance set goals to “Reduce community fossil fuel use by 50% of 2010 levels by 2030."
Why end the new CTG pilot
This project will derail Eugene and UO's climate goals, raising campus scope 1 emissions by 65%, and increasing campus gas use from 43,000 million British thermal units (MMBTU) to 71,000 MMBTU, the equivalent of burning over 4 million pounds of coal according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.*
Increasing air pollution by dramatically expanding fossil fuel use on campus is associated with public health risks due to higher levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and fine particulate matter in the air.
The lack of transparency and intentional deception on the part of the UO Office of Sustainability is in direct contradiction with the UO's public charter and commitments to shared governance.
Why Electrify The Boilers
The University of Oregon's campus heating system (the boilers) is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Eugene.
The building's heating system, which is powered by methane boilers, makes up 49% of campus emissions. Fully electrifying the boilers would bring the UO in line with these climate goals.
One boiler has expired and is due for replacement. The UO has withheld this information from the public in order to delay this electrification project further and pollute more in the interim.
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