$6.75M upgrade planned for University of Michigan's Central Power Plant
The University of Michigan is planning $6.75 million in upgrades to its Central Power Plant in order to improve reliability and enhance the plant's efficiency.
The multimillion dollar project will go before the U-M Board of Regents for approval during a meeting in Flint on Thursday at 3 p.m.
The plant provides steam for the heating, cooling and electricity of several buildings on U-M's Central Campus.
The project will include upgrades to the power plant's electrical control systems to minimize unnecessary steam production and maximize efficiency, according to a memo from U-M Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Timothy P. Slottow to the board of regents.
Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan
The upgrades come after U-M President Mary Sue Coleman's pledge last month to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus by 25 percent. The pledge was part of a $14 million sustainability initiative.
The plant will continue to operate through construction, which will be completed is phases and is scheduled to finish in fall 2014.
Funding for the upgrades will be provided from an already existing utility resources fund. The school has chosen Iowa-based engineering firm Stanley Consultants to design the upgrades.
The regents will also discuss the school's plans to purchase property in lower town and the schematic design for a $14 million renovation to Yost Ice Arena.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Anders
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 3:47 a.m.
which will be completed is phases I think this is a typo?
1bigbud
Mon, Oct 10, 2011 : 10:48 p.m.
Wht a boost for 190 Have a ball guys Make it now while ya can
ChrisW
Mon, Oct 10, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
Lots of companies do run their own power stations. Not as many as in the old days, but they're making a comeback, especially near data centers. Apple uses Bloom Boxes from <a href="http://www.bloomenergy.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.bloomenergy.com/</a> to supplement their power needs and their new campus will be completely off-grid, most likely due to high energy costs in California.
Brian Kuehn
Mon, Oct 10, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.
I have occasionally wondered if operating one's own power plant is cost effective. If owning a power plant was a money maker, most cities and large corporations should have gotten into the power business. Ultimately the University knows their business better than I so I must be missing something.
zigziggityzoo
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
Even Apple Inc.'s next headquarters will have its own Natural Gas power plant.
zigziggityzoo
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
Most municipalities can't do it thanks to state sanctioned monopolies run by private corporations. Power generation can be HUGE savings, which is why you see many factory farms building their own.