Fort residents to re-vote on chip boiler plan
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Due to a technical oversight on the part of SAD 20, Fort Fairfield residents are again being asked to vote on whether they want to proceed with the construction of a central wood biomass heating plant that would offset at least 95 percent of the 41,696 gallons of heating oil used annually at local schools.
According to Marc Gendron, SAD 20 superintendent, the warrants for the initial public hearing were posted for only six days rather than seven days as required by law.
“That one-day difference put our 0-percent financing in jeopardy,” he said, “because the lawyers could not give the Maine Municipal Bond Bank a clean recommendation. By re-doing the election, the financing is secure — still at 0 percent — which is why we’re going through the process again. Losing the 0-percent financing would have cost us $130,000 had the election been challenged. We’re re-doing the process to retain the 0-percent financing.
“The late posting was an unfortunate error on my part, and I appreciate all the help correcting it in the most efficient and timely manager possible,” said Gendron, noting that the second public hearing was held Dec. 27. “I appreciate the fact that the town has to do another election, and I’m asking people to vote again.”
On Thursday, Jan. 19, Fort Fairfield voters will be asked: “Do you favor authorizing the School Board of Maine School Administrative District No. 20 to undertake an energy conservation project including the installation of a biomass boiler and related renovations and improvements and also including the construction of an accessory building (the “Project”) with the total Project cost not to exceed $1,821,142 and to issue bonds or notes in the name of the school administrative district for school construction and/or minor capital project purposes in an amount not to exceed $1,321,142 with the balance of Project costs to be derived from a United States Department of Agriculture grant in the amount of $500,000 administered through the Maine Department of Conservation?”
The proposed plant — combined with several small efficiency improvements in both the middle/high and elementary schools, which include new domestic hot water heating systems and variable frequency drives (VFDs) on pumps — will save $98,740 in energy costs in the first year of operation based on predicted and historical energy costs.
“The energy savings are being guaranteed by Trane, the prime contractor and energy services company for this project,” Gendron said. “The wood chip boiler that has been selected for this project is a Hurst boiler; Hurst is one of the premier boiler manufacturers in the United States and has been in business for over 40 years.
“The wood chip fired boiler is being installed by local Aroostook County contractors and is expected to provide local jobs both during the construction phase and long-term jobs in the wood products industry for the 30-year anticipated life of the plant,” he said.
The total financed amount for the project will be $1,321,142.
“The project will be self-funding which means that the guaranteed energy savings will pay for the debt service over the financing period for the project,” said Gendron. “No local capital will need to be raised to support the project; local taxes will not be increased to fund the project.”
SAD 20 has been awarded $500,000 in federal matching funds by the Maine Forestry Service for the installation of the wood-biomass renewable energy project.
Though located at Fort Fairfield Middle/Senior High School, the district’s elementary school would also benefit from the project.
“We’re going to pipe the water from the high school to the elementary school underground in Tex tubing (an insulated pipe surrounded by Styrofoam),” Gendron said. “We’re going to dig a trench, lay the pipe about four feet underground, and the hot water that’s heated by our biomass boiler will go about 1,000 yards to the elementary school, connect to their boiler, and heat the water that will heat that building.”
Gendron said the district is currently spending between $135,000 and $150,000 for fuel oil.
“Of that money, not much of it stays in our community,” he said. “By going to wood chips, instead of that money leaving our area, all the wood chips will be provided locally … anywhere from Houlton to Fort Kent. We’re not importing the chips from Canada or the South, and that will help us provide long-term jobs for the people that work in the woods, as well as those who process and deliver the chips. There will also be some temporary jobs in terms of the construction project.”
Residents can vote Jan. 19 from 2-6 p.m. at the Fort Fairfield Community Center. Should the referendum be approved a second time, Gendron said, the next step in the process would be to begin construction.
“The contractors will begin as soon as possible,” he said, “and we’ll be able to order the boiler and some parts and get the project back on track. If approved, the boiler should be in place and operating by the end of this school year.”
The Nov. 8 referendum was approved by a two-thirds majority — 556 “Yes” to 259 “No.”
