The Maine Campus
Summary
Ahead of a project authorization request expected at an upcoming University of Maine Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in April, members of the campus community are weighing environmental goals against historic preservation concerns tied to tentative renovation plans for UMaine’s Central Steam Plant.
The existing Central Steam Plant was built in 1906 and provides heating service to 90% of the Orono campus. According to the University of Maine Energy Center Project, it provides 4.7 miles of steam distribution and has about 119 steam pits. Currently there are two natural gas-fired boilers and a third oil-fired boiler is kept on “standby mode” as a backup.
The UMaine Energy Center (UMEC) project is an addition to the Central Steam Plant and addresses the renewal of infrastructure. With four clear goals targeting reliability, renewable energy and low and stable cost. This project is part of the University’s Climate Action Plan updated in 2021 that will aim to have buildings run more efficiently. UMEC is expected to have 100% renewable energy capacity and will help UMaine achieve its carbon neutrality by 2040.
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