John Mead, director of the Coal Research Center, said the new plant, which will begin operating in late October 1996, will use state of the art technology for converting of coal to steam and generating energy to heat and cool campus buildings.

It is one of the most advanced facilities in the U.S., he said.

Mead said the plant emits low levels of air pollution and will be a hallmark for industries and other institutions.

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The new plant is designed to capture a high percentage of nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide, Mead said.

It’s a big project, he said. But (the new plant) will provide energy needs.

Harry Wirth, director of Plant and Service Operation, said the construction includes refurbishing some of the present boilers and replacing the electrostatic precipitators.

One of the old boilers, which has been used since the 1950s, will be replaced with a fluidized bed boiler, which is more efficient than the old boiler, Wirth said. Another will be replaced by a gas fire boiler. This boiler was used during the construction process. Once construction is complete, the gas boiler will be used for emergency purposes only, Wirth said.

Wirth said SIUC is meeting all the requirements of its permit established by the Environmental Protection Agency, ending the questions about environmental effects of the construction of the new plant.

We have a model environment project, Wirth said. We’re committed to getting a state of the art power plant in operation. We’re looking forward to it.

When the new plant is completed, Wirth said the old smoke stack will be torn down. Currently both smoke stacks are still standing, however, the new one cannot start operation until the boilers are installed.

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