The Swanson School of Engineering recently launched the “first-of-its-kind” Natural Gas, Renewables and Oil Engineering Program, which will start recruiting students in 2026. The GRO program will be housed in the chemical engineering department and cover both traditional energy sources, like oil and natural gas, and renewable energy sources, like solar and wind.

While it would be wonderful if we had presidential candidates that support a more aggressive transition to renewables and advocate for protective measures, only an act of Congress could nationally ban fracking. The president doesn’t have that kind of authority, and most protective action that’s come down the pipeline has been at a municipal, county and state level. 

We often think of electricity as being clean — a silent, invisible stream of energy generated by some unseen force. Out of sight, out of mind.

Pitt’s power will undergo a solar shift by 2030 — creating less carbon emissions and more jobs.