White Pine School District - Fuels For Schools Program

Location: Ely, NV
Contact: Paul Johnson, CFO (775) 289-4851 - paujohns@whitepine.k12.nv.us
Project Stage: Active (Multi-year)
Next Milestone: Date Event

As one of the pilot demonstration projects of the six-state Fuels for Schools Program, a new biomass boiler at the White Pine School District, in Ely, NV generates heat for local school buildings from by-products of forest thinning, reducing energy costs and securing a local energy supply for this remote area.

There were several hurdles to overcome. "Regulations, and applications are extensive & cumbersome, and sometimes in flux or competing," says Chief Financial Officer Paul Johnson. "For example, we did not find out until after we had received money from one source that it could not be used for capital or construction, but that is what we specified that we needed when we submitted the application." And even after securing funding and building the facility, "The closest location for the source of biomass turned out to be inaccessible, so the Nevada Division of Forestry assisted with grant to pay for transportation costs and it negotiated for us with local contractor to provide transport of biomass from another location farther away."

Some ongoing management challenges are common to new industries, new infrastructure, and new technologies: inconsistent fuel sources, and inadequate maintenance & technical support (there is only one vendor for the type of plant chosen for the project - in Michigan). Some challenges are due to both the volume and safety of combustible biomass itself: dirt, dust, transportation, and storage.

But the costs for civic projects are amortized over decades, so it "will be worth the trouble." In 2006, the district saved $36,000, which is currently being used for loan payments for the District's portion of capital improvement costs. "Eventually, money that we are now using for loan payments will be used directly for education." Other offsetting financial benefits for the school district are reduced fuel oil consumption (by over 18,326 gallons in 2006), reduced labor costs to maintain boiler systems (three systems were replaced, although one was retained as a back-up system). Financial benefits to the community include jobs for local contractors in removal and hauling, and the market for waste wood lowers landowner fuels reduction for fire safety costs.

For more about:

• Paul Johnson's powerpoint presentation of Lessons Learned in this project, and to see other biomass presentations, see Sierra Economic Development District (click through to Biomass Workshop)
• The White Pine School District and Nevada Division of Forestry
• Heating schools and other civic buildings with wood: technology and applications, see Biomass Energy Resource Center
• Key presentations from the Nov 2006 working session conference of a regional, multi-state biomass energy initiative, see Northern Forest Biomass Energy Initiative (NFBEI)

Similar Businesses and Organizations:

• Darby Fuels For Schools Project
• More Coming Soon