Editing University of Washington (section)

=== History of energy at UW ===
The first UW power plant was built simultaneously with some of the first campus buildings back in 1895, and was located to the east of campus along the existing shoreline of [[Lake Washington]]. The plant, which burned coal to produce steam to help heat and electrify the campus, was quickly replaced in 1901 as the campus’ energy needs began to grow.

This second power plant was located where the modern day Allen Library stands. It too used a coal and steam system, and was in use for 7 years before it was put to rest and a third plant was built.

This third power plant, which originally consisted of two 250 horsepower coal powered boilers, remains the current site for the University of Washington's central power plant.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Facilities |first=UW Sustainability & UW |date=2023-05-22 |title=History of UW's Power Plant |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f6943d7bcbcb4764b7cbe6da6dc59c5c |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |language=en}}</ref> It is located opposite Montlake Boulevard from the Intramural Activities Building (IMA).<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Decarbonizing the UW |url=https://sustainability.uw.edu/energy-transformation |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=sustainability.uw.edu |language=en}}</ref> The university started their switch from coal to natural gas in 1956 and finished in 1988, motivated by growing global environmental concerns and awareness.<ref name=":02" />

An additional power plant, the West Campus Utility Plant (WCUP), was added to campus in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miller Hull — West Campus Utility Plant |url=https://millerhull.com/project/west-campus-utility-plant/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=millerhull.com |language=en}}</ref> This plant serves as a backup power supply to research buildings on Southwest campus, and generates and stores chilled water for cooling purposes.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=West Campus Utility Plant |url=https://sustainability.uw.edu/campus/west-campus-utility-plant |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=sustainability.uw.edu |language=en}}</ref> The current capacity of this plant is 6 megawatts of emergency power and 4,500 tons of chilled water, but is expandable to double the size of both reserves with no necessary building modifications.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Washington West Campus Utility Plant |url=https://www.mortenson.com/projects/university-of-washington---west-campus-utility-plant#:~:text=The%20plant%20provides%204,500%20tons,without%20modification%20to%20the%20building. |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Mortenson |language=en}}</ref> The WCUP was awarded the Envision Gold Award from the [[Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure]] for its sustainability focused building design and purposes.<ref name=":03" />  [[File:Alberg pano - restitch.jpg|center|thumb|888x888px|UW Power Plant Shown in Panoramic View of East Campus]]