The plant operations department is responsible for the operations of a combined heat and power plant that provides electric power and steam heat and chillers that provide cooling.
The power plant has a peak load of 7 MW and a power generating capacity of 5 MW. The plant operations department has 5 centrifugal chillers with a total combined capacity of 11,000 tons, two gas fired boilers and one-heat recovery boiler, used to generate the steam that is required to heat the campus buildings, and research centers. These boilers have a total steam generating capacity of 102,500 lbs. per hour.
The utilities section of plant operations is responsible for providing utilities for the university 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The Central Cooling/Heating Plant, provides cooling and heating for about 85% of the buildings on campus.