In a display of remarkable institutional leadership and continuity, Allegheny College is reaching climate neutrality in 2020. Under the steady guidance of Allegheny's Director of Sustainability, Kelly Boulton, three Presidents, a dedicated Board of Trustees, a series of committed Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), a talented physical plant, and some key investments, beginning this year, Allegheny will offset, displace, or absorb every greenhouse gas it emits.

Allegheny College is not the first college to reach carbon neutrality. What makes the achievement so remarkable, however, is doing so with fewer financial resources than wealthier institutions with greater capacity to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon offsets.

Which raises the next question. Should Allegheny College divest its portfolio from companies tied to fossil fuels?

Which in turn raises several additional questions.

• What other colleges and universities have taken on divestment?
• What has happened to their ROIs?
• How difficult was the transition and how did they manage it?
• Did it make any difference to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere?
• Did it make any difference to their ability to attract students?
• What investment companies offer fossil fuel free portfolios?
• Did divestment improve their rankings among the many rating systems that rank sustainability at colleges?
• Where is the line between fossil free investing and not?
• What should Allegheny do if the cost of divestment is too high?
• Should sustainable energy be a priority in a new investment strategy?