The Penn State Board of Trustees approved a plan this morning to convert the University Park steam production facilities from coal-based to natural gas-based. We contacted Eco-Action for their immediate response:

The proposal of natural gas for the west campus steam plant is unfortunate but not unexpected. Eco-Action urges the university to pursue renewable energy alternatives aggressively and develop a plan for a swift transition away from fossil fuels. We won’t be satisfied until this process is complete.

Penn State Department of Public Information spokespeople pointed out that a university-supplied FAQ addresses Eco-Action’s concern. Here’s an excerpt from question four, which speaks to the plan Eco-Action would prefer:

For now, the switch to natural gas is considered transitional while we wait for renewable technologies to mature and solutions to prove scalable for a University of our size.