Continuing in its commitment to protect the environment and vying to become the first college in Massachusetts to provide heat for its students exclusively with wood pellets, Anna Maria College (AMC) announced today that it has partnered with International WoodFuels (www.iWoodFuels.com) to install and operate a state-of-the-art wood pellet central heating system on campus.  The introduction of WoodFuels’ new Green Energy System, which is one of the first metered pellet boilers in the United States, will reduce the school’s carbon emissions by more than 900 tons annually, as well as displace nearly 85,000 gallons of #2 heating fuel that the college burns each year.  These reductions will help AMC fulfill its obligation to the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment, which the college signed onto in 2007.

 

 “Anna Maria College has been concerned with environmental issues since its inception,” shares Jack P. Calareso, Ph.D., President of AMC.  “We formalized our commitment when we signed the President’s Climate Commitment in 2007, pledging to work towards creating a climate/carbon neutral environment.  Our new partnership with International WoodFuels to install a new wood pellet thermal heating system at our Paxton Campus will help us continue to be good stewards of the environment.”

 

AMC has made significant strides over the last several years to increase campus sustainability and decrease the school’s impact on the local environment, despite the recent economic recession.  These efforts have been lead by both President Calareso and a number of campus-wide groups.  AMC recently formed the President’s Advisory Council on Environmental Sustainability (PACES), which is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.  PACES has studied and recommended a wide array of green programs that the school has utilized successfully.  With the help and careful consideration of the college’s Board of Director’s, Director of Buildings and Grounds, and PACES, President Calareso made the determination that the WoodFuels thermal heating system was not only the best option to replace an aging fossil fuels system, but that “it was the right thing to do.”

 

In addition to the WoodFuels installation, AMC has implemented campus wide initiatives that include single stream recycling, exchanging conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting (CFL’s), only purchasing Energy Star approved appliances, installing solar powered score boards and timers at outdoor athletic facilities, and many other energy-saving practices.  The college is also currently performing a wind study to determine whether the installation of a wind turbine would be a viable option for reducing the school’s energy costs.  These efforts are being praised by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), which has been promoting the use of alternative energy resources and the vast opportunities which the Commonwealth’s timber supply offers to both biomass producers and customers.  

 

“I congratulate Anna Maria College for showing great leadership for the Commonwealth in their decision to embrace renewable biomass heating and remarkably reduce dependency on fossil fuels, while saving costs,” states Phil Giudice, Commissioner of DOER.  “This endeavor will showcase the tremendous potential for modern and clean wood pellet heating on an institutional scale.  This form of renewable energy has gained significant market share in portions of Europe where it has created significant jobs and industry.  We are excited to see this technology and business opportunities coming into New England and our state.”

 

WoodFuels, based in Portland, Maine, owns and operates pellet production facilities and manufactures pellets dedicated to its thermal heating customers, guaranteeing supply.  The company stood out to AMC due to its distinctive metered heating program, which guarantees the college savings over using conventional #2 heating fuel and does not require up-front capital for equipment.   WoodFuels will install a highly efficient industrial pellet boiler and storage silo, and then operate, monitor, and maintain the system, all at no cost to the college.  AMC entered into an Energy Services Agreement with the company, which requires the college to use the system as its primary heating source for the life of the 10 year contract.

 

Unique to the WoodFuels model, AMC does not pre-buy pellet supply, but instead receives a monthly invoice for the metered BTUs which the college consumes from heating the campus.  This metering technology is a first in the country for thermal energy consumers.  Pellets are delivered as needed by WoodFuels, which monitors the system online in real time.  The price paid for BTUs is negotiated on an annual schedule, and is based on a combination of economic factors.  WoodFuels is an attractive option for educational institutions for both economic and environmental reasons, said company President Steven J. Mueller. 

 

“Across New England, WoodFuels has seen the demand for our Renewable Energy Solution from educational institutions sky rocket due to the effect that unpredictable fossil fuel prices can have on a school’s budget, and their desire to be leaders in the sustainable movement,” stated Mueller.  “The WoodFuels program allows Anna Maria College to become the first college in Massachusetts to heat the majority of its campus on metered thermal energy from locally sourced wood pellets. Our system will remove fluctuating fuel costs entirely from the school’s budget, save valuable dollars, and reduce the campus’ environmental impact on the surrounding landscape.”

 

Part of WoodFuels agreement with AMC entails working through the permitting process and managing other regulatory issues related to installation.