Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
NEW BOILER — The Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton has a new double pellet boiler to heat its facility on Bird Street. About half of the cost for the new system was covered by a grant from USDA. With the new unit is Dave Keaton, director of Region Two.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Thanks to a federal grant, the Region Two School of Applied Technology will be able to be less dependent on fossil fuels this coming winter.
Region Two was selected to receive a Community Facility Grant in the amount of $24,000. The funds will be used to convert the current heating system from oil to pellets, benefiting the environment and contributing to the biomass economy, according to Dave Keaton, director for the school.
Located next to Houlton High School on Bird Street, Region Two has heat provided by that school’s wood chip boiler from October until April vacation. However, heat is sometimes needed before the wood chip system is turned on and also beyond April.
In the past, Region Two has used an oil-based furnace to heat the 27,000 square foot school during those times when the RSU 29 wood chip boiler was either not on or to provide supplemental heat to some areas of the school.
“We have that window of time when additional heating is needed,” Keaton said. “During that time, we are burning oil. Sometimes, on really cold days, the amount of heat coming over is not enough, so our boilers kick on to heat the rest of the building.”
Last year, Region Two spent nearly $14,000 in oil when a relay system failed to switch from oil to the RSU 29 biomass burner.
“Basically for the whole month of March last year, we were heating solely with oil and didn’t know it,” Keaton said.
One oil-burning furnace will remain at Region Two, serving as a backup.
“We had been working on the grant for quite some time,” Keaton said. “We started the grant process back in early May.”
“Innovative regional development can work especially well in rural areas because it helps communities share resources across boundaries such as county and state lines,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press release. “By focusing on one or a few common sectors, regional development typically produces greater economic returns.”
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “Two key leaders from Maine are participating in this important meeting of the White House Rural Council. Sunrise County Economic Council Executive Director Harold Clossey, and Northern Maine Development Commission Executive Director Robert Clark are participating in today’s conversation on creating economic development strategies in rural communities. These organizations are valuable partners in promoting economic growth for businesses and community organizations in Washington and Aroostook counties, and are critical partners in Maine’s Great Regions Initiative.”
During this week’s forum, Vilsack announced the selection of 187 projects for USDA Rural Development loans and grants to support economic development. The funding is being provided through the Community Facilities program, the Intermediary Relending Program, the Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program and the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.
The new double pellet boiler cost about $48,000. Keaton said he anticipates the system will pay for itself within the first three years of operation.
“The ultimate goal is for us to get out the business of burning oil,” Keaton said.
