UPDATE
Despite the fact that Norwich voters approved the wood chip installation with a 60% plurality, community concerns about the emissions from the wood chip burner resulted in the Board deciding to table any action on the wood chip burner for the foreseeable future. Following a joint presentation by John Hinckley and Eric Miller, a Norwich resident with extensive experience in this field, it was evident to the board that safety assurances regarding the effects of particulate matter precluded proceeding with the project.
Background on Norwich Wood Chip Boiler
Roughly a year ago, the Norwich Board and administration learned about several energy initiatives from the Vermont Department of Education that encouraged the installation of wood-fired heating systems in schools. Instead of providing the typical 75% support for new construction projects, Vermont offered to pay 90% of the cost to install a new wood chip heating system if a school district could demonstrate sufficient savings. Given the opportunity to secure these additional funds and take steps that would save money and the environment, the Norwich Board commissioned a study to determine if we would realize the savings we needed to qualify for state aid. The initial study was completed before the recent spike in fuel oil costs, and it consequently indicated we would NOT be eligible for State funding.
Early this summer, we received a call from the consultant who conducted the study on our behalf, and he reported that based on his preliminary calculations with the recent fuel oil costs, the Norwich Board would qualify for State aid. At their meeting on September 6, Adam Sherman from Biomass Energy Resource Center issued the attached report to the Norwich Board for their consideration. At the meeting, the Board asked the staff to share the report with the Norwich Finance Committee, who asked several questions regarding the financing, the environmental effects, and the long range savings the board might realize from the installation of the wood chip boiler. After reviewing the questions, the board decided to add the cost of an environmental impact study, a higher smokestack, and a “scrubber” in the smokestack. The Board intends to complete the impact study as soon as possible and use the study as a basis for determining whether the higher smokestack or “scrubber” is needed.
A copy of the warning for the meeting is attached. The language provides the board with the option of seeking revenue anticipation notes for an extended period if it becomes evident the state matching funds might not be available within a 2-3 time period, which is the typical time frame.
Also attached are an Emissions Fact Sheet and a booklet explaining how a wood chip boiler works, and a series of FAQs on Wood chip boilers.
The Norwich Board will hold a public forum on the wood chip proposal on Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose room at Marion Cross and a legally mandated public information meeting at the same time and site on November 1. The Board will also be meeting with the Norwich Selectboard on October 25 to discuss this project as well as other issues of common interest.
If you have any additional questions, please email the Superintendent at SAU70.net.
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