In 2014, President Lou Anna K. Simon announced MSU’s T.B. Simon Power Plant would nearly eliminate the purchasing and burning of coal by the end of 2015.

"Once the coal question has gone away with this last piece ... now that that's gone away, we can focus on the cultural," Simon said.

Simon said the plan to transition to natural gas was to see an end to using coal.

"It's a cheaper solution, but it's also a reliable solution," MSU associate vice president for strategic infrastructure planning and facilities Dan Bollman said.

Bollman said Consumers Energy has one of the largest storage units of natural gas. Additionally, natural gas can be bought years in advance, he said.

"There is not a very good alternative," Simon said. She said there is a large demand for new energy on campus and this generation has more than doubled its need for kilowatts.

Simon said the issue of consumption on campus must begin with a cultural change. Each students' carbon footprint on campus will play a role in the university's energy plan. 

MSU has also announced a variety of energy projects and efficiency updates that will begin as early as this month.

Vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation and quality for Consumers Energy Garrick Rochow said the university will continue to grow in their partnership with Consumers Energy.

"The energy storage technology is going to continue to improve," president of Inovateus Solar T.J. Kanczuzewski said. "The storage component is going to take solar to the next level."

Kanczuzewski said MSU will install carports throughout campus as a part of their plan.

MSU and Consumers Energy will create a new electrical substation that will be finished by 2022, Rochow said.

"There's no silver bullet with this," Simon said while discussing the MSU Energy Transition Plan.

MSU plans to run completely on renewable energy by 2050.

"It takes all of us to make a difference," Simon said. "Everybody needs to do their part to be green."