From a story on WXOW-TV, La Crosse:

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW)- Opponents of the use of coal to heat classrooms and dormitories at the UW-La Crosse held a rally to push for a transition to cleaner forms of energy.

Speakers at the rally emphasized damage to the environment and public health as reasons to stop using coal as an energy source. The rally also criticized what they call destructive methods used to mine the coal used to power the campus.

Representatives for the No Coal Coalition say that the transition to cleaner energy should not be complicated. The coal plant at UW-La Crosse is able to run on natural gas, which would be used as a transitional fuel until renewable sources of energy such as biomass can be used. The No Coal Coalition also mentioned that a new facility will not have to be built; only changes to the infrastructure will be needed.