The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Andrew Burton The heating plant, which produces heat for the entire university and is located between McAlexander Fieldhouse and Washington Way, is due to be replaced by a new energy center.

The gas leak Friday morning turned the attention of some at the university to the facilities that keep them warm.

The heating plant had to undergo evacuations along with Kerr Administration, facilities services and the McAlexander Fieldhouse.

Plans have been developing for three years to have a new, fully functional heating facility by September 2008.

This will be replacing OSU's current 84-year-old system.

"The new energy center will allow us to meet university energy needs in a more reliable, more efficient and more modern manner," said Todd Simmons, assistant vice president for news and communications services.

OSU facilities services broke ground for the new heating plant in November 2006.

"It's going very well," said Les Walton, manager of the OSU heating plant. "Between the construction crew and the OSU design crew, we're all on track and in the same boat as far as 'let's get it done.'"

Some concerns that led to the proposals for a new heating facility were the inefficient use of fuels, the current facility's inflexible use of fuels and the lack of possible growth the current facility provides, Walton said.

Simmons also pointed out a distinction between the current plant, which produces only heat, and the new energy center, which he said will be more inclusive and provide more types of energy.

The system will include a 5.5-mega-watt generator to produce electricity. This generator will cut energy costs by $2 million.

The three boilers that will replace the current system will be capable of producing 250,000 pounds per hour of either gas or oil fuels, compared to its previous capabilities of producing 80,000 pounds per hour, Walton said.

Simmons said the entire energy center will cost $39 million to build.

"The campus is expected to grow to the west. The replacement system is supposed to have the capacity for campus growth up to 2015," Walton said.

Twelve university staff members have worked as a design team, along with the consulting firm Carter & Burgess, for the new plant.

This 3-year-old project will have its foundations laid in March.

"Right now the project is on schedule and on budget, which is where we want to be," said Larry Easterly, manager of university engineering.

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