6 Questions and More

What is the staffing like for the MU Power Plant?

Staffing of the MU power plant is crucial to providing MU’s campus with highly reliable utility service. The plant runs 24 hours per day year-round to serve the entire campus community. All campus buildings and facilities, including hospitals and research laboratories, depend on reliable energy to serve our students, faculty, world-class researchers, staff and visitors. We have a highly skilled and dedicated staff of plant operators, mechanics, electricians and technicians to keep the power plant running efficiently and reliably.

How does the new biomass boiler fit in with MU’s long-term sustainability plans?

Chancellor Brady Deaton signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2009, which set the stage to explore and expand our use of renewable energy sources for the campus. The power plant was already using biomass as a source of supplemental energy, and because of a need to replace one of the plant’s boilers, it made sense to explore the feasibility of a 100 percent biomass-fired boiler for MU. The biomass-fired boiler fit our goals exceptionally well by providing a reliable energy source for the campus and helping achieve the sustainability goals established in the university’s climate action plan. The biomass boiler also helps MU’s researchers in the development of bio-fuel energy with the Sustainability Energy initiative within the Mizzou Advantage program.

How is the new biomass-fueled boiler an improvement over the old power plant’s system?

The biomass boiler replaced a coal-fired boiler, which was inefficient and unreliable. This new biomass boiler should provide MU with a reliable source of sustainable energy for many years.

You’ve said before that you are looking at closed-loop biomass, or biomass specifically grown for energy production. Specifically, where are you looking to acquire that fuel?

MU will begin the operation of the biomass boiler by utilizing mostly wood wastes available in the region. We established a contract with Foster Brothers Wood Products in Auxvasse, Mo., to sustainably source, process and deliver biomass fuel to the plant. During the next few years, we plan to test and develop other sources of biomass fuels, which may include closed-loop biomass. Examples of closed-loop biomass that could be grown in Missouri specifically for energy include: short-rotation wood such as willow or poplar, miscanthus or switchgrass. We plan to work with our campus researchers and others to develop long-term sources of sustainable biomass energy for the boiler in addition to wood wastes.

Is closed-loop biomass a new industry? How might it affect current energy industries in Missouri?

The bio-fuel and biomass industries in Missouri are expanding, and MU’s use of biomass fuels is helping to drive that expansion. Missouri is in a good position to be a bio-fuel leader in our country. I believe bio-fuels will complement other traditional sources of energy used in Missouri.

What are the cost ramifications of this new biomass boiler?

The biomass boiler had the least ownership cost compared to the other boiler and fuel options in our feasibility evaluation. The biomass fuel source for the new boiler is competitive with other fuel choices on an equivalent energy basis. Another financial benefit for the biomass boiler choice was that biomass would be sustainably sourced in Missouri, unlike coal or gas that must be purchased from other states. This helps economic development in Missouri.

Did you look at any other schools or other institutions when you were deciding to go in the biomass route?

We investigated and received information from numerous sources as we developed the plans to install the biomass boiler. Our design team also visited several facilities to learn more about the type of equipment and systems needed for a successful project before developing our plans and specifications.

With whom and for how long were you collaborating to get this project done?

Internally, we’ve been collaborating in the development of biomass fuel for the plant with a team of MU professors and researchers versed in agriculture, engineering, extension and forestry since 2005. We began using biomass as a supplementary fuel in the plant in 2006. We received very valuable assistance from an MU professor in forestry/Extension to help us develop the sustainability requirements for the woody biomass in our biomass-purchasing specifications. We have a long tradition of successful partnering with MU’s academic community.

Chancellor Deaton set the goal of reducing MU’s carbon emissions by 20 percent from 2008 to 2015. How far along is the university in achieving that goal?

As of July 2012, MU had already exceeded the 2015 goal of a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation and using more natural gas in place of coal. We expect to be able to achieve even more reductions during the next few years by burning biomass and implementing other sustainability and energy conservation initiatives.

What role are you playing in making that happen?

There are numerous activities under way to increase sustainability at MU; however, energy is an area with a significant impact. My role as the power plant superintendent is to continue to improve our efficiency and effectiveness in producing the utilities for the campus while looking for other opportunities to expand the use of renewable energy, such as the biomass boiler.

You have made it part of your mission to educate your staff on how developing technology makes more economic sense. How do you go about doing that?

I’ve encouraged my peers and staff to try new ideas and concepts when they make good sense. Of course we always complete our due diligence in researching and analyzing new ideas, but there comes a time when you just have to try something to see if it works or makes sense to pursue further. For example, our initial tests of using biomass were just trials to see if we could handle and burn some possible biomass sources, such as corncobs and wood wastes. We’ve certainly followed the Missouri Show-Me State motto.

What are some of the challenges in leading a team into relatively uncharted technological territory?

Our plant staff is a group of practical people and great problem solvers who routinely deal with complex mechanical and electrical system challenges. The new biomass boiler system is just another challenge for us to handle, and I’m confident we’ll succeed. One of my tasks during the process has been to give my staff the necessary resources and support to work through problems as they arise.

We hear a lot these days about organizations going green, many that are following the trend to simply convey a sense of social responsibility. Is MU a trend follower or a trendsetter?

MU is definitely a trendsetter in sustainability. As student enrollment continues to increase, MU continues to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. According to our Climate Action Plan consultant, MU’s Climate Action Plan is one of the most aggressive, yet realistic, when compared to peer institutions. The current climate action plan includes a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2016, and we are currently looking at ways to move this goal even higher.