NATURAL GAS POWERS
OSU to a Sustainable Future NICOLE JACOBS | EnergyInDepth Leveraging the region’s abundant natural gas and energy resources, The Ohio State University is moving forward with plans that will advance its sustainability initiatives and achieve environmental progress with a new natural gas-fired power plant. In 2008, the university released its Resource Stewardship Goals, which included achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 25 percent energy efficiency improvement on campus within the next decade. Central to the school’s strategy, the OSU Climate Action Plan, is the construction of a 105.5 MW natural
CO2 emission reductions while U.S. consumption and production of natural gas soared. In addition to reducing costs and enhancing energy efficiency improvements, OSU’s power plant is expected to cut the campus’ carbon emissions by 35 percent within the first year of its operations. The transition to this energy source will also make OSU more resilient by generating its own power through a sustainable closed-loop system. But the environment isn’t the only thing that’s benefiting from this move – the partnership forged to operate the plant is investing millions in the school to enhance education and community support initiatives. Three years ago, Ohio State entered into an agreeOSU continued on page 4
gas-fueled combined heat and power plant, which will be used to power, heat and cool parts of the main campus. Ohio State is one of many schools, hospitals, and cities turning to natural gas for their energy needs, as the push to integrate more low-carbon fuel sources in the energy mix heightens. And it’s working. The International Energy Agency credited the United States as leading the world in energy-related
SEPTEMBER 2020
OhioGas&Oil
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