Some University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students want to kick coal off campus.

Students plan to rally at 3 p.m. today to show their opposition to UW-L burning coal for heating. Similar rallies will happen across the nation as part of the Sierra Club's "National Day of Action."

UW-L is among nine UW campuses still using coal, according to the state Department of Administration. Yet of the 1,925 facilities that report air emissions in Wisconsin, only 50 burned coal in 2008, said Ralph Patterson, emission inventory team leader for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Several speakers at UW-L will talk about the effect burning coal has on climate change, human health and clean air.

"Coal is a dirty, outdated way to be powering our campuses and health facilities," said Jennifer Feyerherm, director of Wisconsin's Clean Energy Campaign for Sierra Club.

The Sierra Club contends UW-L, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout all are in violation of the Clean Air Act because they didn't install modern pollution controls when making plant renovations, said Feyerherm.

The Department of Administration considers the four UW plants to be in compliance, said Emily Winecke, communications specialist with the department.

The DNR is reviewing the Sierra Club's claims.

The Sierra Club sued UW-Madison and the Department of Administration in May 2007, claiming the campus power plant lacks modern pollution controls. A federal judge later ruled the plant needed to cut coal use by 15 percent starting in 2008. Plans now are in the works to replace coal burning with a boiler fueled by biomass.

"If the state can take its biggest facility and make it burn biomass and natural gas, smaller plants can certainly do the same thing," said Feyerherm.

The UW-L Student Senate likely will vote Wednesday on a resolution urging the state and governor explore converting the UW-L power plant to biomass and natural gas.

"Ideally, I would like this to raise attention in state government and the DOA that this is an issue at UW-L, not just Madison," said Missy Ruplinger, environmental sustainability director for the UW-L Student Association.

Student organizers expect about 100 people at the rally, said Liana Skibbie, environmental council co-chairwoman.

"This is something our students care about, because it is really harmful and not cool," she said.