News Release
Media Contact: Fred Strohl
Communications and External Relations
865.574.4165


Audio Spot: ORNL steam plant will convert to bioenergy

 
 Audio Clip  
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Aug. 11, 2008 — Changes to a 50-year-old steam plant at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Natural Laboratory will result in burning wood products provided from sawmills and pallet makers, producing steam from bio-energy.

Ian Campbell of Johnson Controls of Milwaukee that is teaming with Oak Ridge to build the plant says the facility will be more energy efficient and save money.

"The efficiency of the boiler is about 94 percent whereas what we are replacing here is about 60 percent," Campbell says. "There is very significant energy savings and our estimate is about $8.7 million at today's energy rates."

Campbell says this is a true green technology.

"Overall this is going to be a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the laboratory and the offices on the campus," Campbell says.

ORNL's Jimmy Stone says the new plant will provide the environmental equivalent of planting 32 million trees or taking more than 2 million cars off the road.

ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy.