The Iowa branch of the Sierra Club, a nationwide environmental organization, appeared at Wednesday’s state Board of Regents meeting to protest the regents’ universities’ use of coal power.

The members entered the meeting wearing yellow T-shirts with the words “Beyond Coal” emblazoned on them.

“We have sustainability programs running at all three regents universities that are calling for increased use of conservation, energy efficiency, and renewables — and this is a wonderful thing,” said Mike Carberry, an Iowa Sierra Club board member.

“But we think we can incorporate phasing out our coal plants.”Carberry said companies are slow to shift away from coal because of its long history as a power source.

“[Coal plants] produce power, they produce power cheaply, and they’ve been around a long time,” he said.Regent President David Miles said he supported the protesters’ initiative.

“I’m very supportive of the notion of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.