University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
OP-2: Outdoor Air Quality

The Parking and Transportation Service (PTS) Department at the University supports alternatives to the single occupant vehicle and promotes programs to encourage the University community to walk, bike, carpool or take the bus.

The University of Minnesota is required to submit an annual air emission inventory to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency by April 1st of each year. The inventory year is from December through November of the previous year. The University is also required to submit a greenhouse gas emission inventory to EPA each year, although the GHG inventory is for the previous calendar year.

Within the past year, the University has obtained environmental approvals for:  Construction of a 22-MW natural gas-fired combined heat & power plant. The capacity will become the baseload unit, providing steam and electricity to the Minneapolis Campus. The CHP Plant is considered “Best Available Control Technology” for greenhouse gases and, as a result, will drastically reduce the University’s GHG footprint (considering purchased electricity GHG emissions). The system will also have state-of-the-art pollution control systems for nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide.  The retirement of two existing coal-fired boilers.  The designation of several small coal-fired boilers as “limited use” under federal regulations. These units will be limited to no more than 10 percent of annual capacity. The University recognizes that conservation and energy efficiency play an important role in minimizing air emissions through a sustainability program called, “It All Adds Up” (see http://italladdsup.umn.edu/energy/index.php ). Continuing programs include energy design assistance and building recommissioning that help minimize air pollution generated caused by space heat, air conditioning and lighting demand.