ASHLAND, Ore. - Southern Oregon University has a plan to make its campus the Northwest to install a .
Like many universities, Southern Oregon uses natural gas to heat its campus. But its current boiler system is getting old.
As a replacement, SOU wants to build a biomass cogeneration plant that would produce steam heat and electricity. The steam would be pumped out to campus buildings for heat. The electricity would be sold back to the grid.
Burning woody biomass would result in increased particulate matter going into the air. Talent resident Steven Petrovic says pollution in the Rogue Valley is already visible from the hiking trails above Ashland.
“Having a plant that could potentially feed into the air pollution – it could be problematic,” he said.
Southern Oregon officials say the project will meet all required air quality standards.
EarthFix will have a complete look later this week at Southern Oregon University's bid to use woody debris from the forest to fuel its power plant.
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