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Coal-Fueled Heating Plant Nears Completion

For years, Mayville State has had to run its boiler heating system with #2 fuel. The #2 fuel has been the only option available, and especially in recent years, this dependence created a huge financial burden for the university.

In an effort to reduce skyrocketing fuel oil costs, Mayville State University entered into a contract with Energy Services Group of Wayzata, Minn. last spring to design and build a coal-fired heating plant on the campus. Work on the project, located on the west end of campus, began early in June of this year with the clearing of the building site. The project is on schedule and the plant will be operational this month.

Two shipments of coal have already been delivered and we expect two more in preparation for firing the new boilers on or about the 16th of November. The first runs will be test runs. Emission tests will be done. We anticipate that we will be ready to fire for heat about the first week in December.

A great deal of planning has gone into this project. The plant design team included representatives of Mayville State University, the Energy Services Group, and Obermiller-Nelson Engineering of Fargo, as well as other coal plant and equipment experts in North Dakota. Mayville State representatives were Dennis Schultz, Steve Bensen, Keith Stenehjem, and me.

To make sure that we had the best possible system for the university and the community, a great deal of the design team’s time and energy was spent debating the plant location, configuration, and equipment. The plant is located between Third Avenue North and County Highway 14, removing the plant from the main campus and connecting to the existing system through a new steam tunnel. This location keeps the majority of truck traffic on the county road and away from campus activity, and leaves the existing plant operational for emergencies.

Wrigley Mechanical of Fargo, N.D. has been the mechanical prime contractor and Northwest Iron Fireman of Fargo, N.D. was the equipment supplier. Our plant design, layout, and equipment were all modeled after the coal-burning heating plant located at Camp Grafton, near Devils Lake, N.D.

The plant will use approximately 2,800 tons of coal over the heating season. During the coldest weather, we project that one truckload of coal will be burned in a 24-hour period. We received and accepted a very competitive bid for the delivered coal from U.S. Express, Inc., from Oakes, N.D. The coal will be treated with oil, so dust is not an issue. We are working with Waste Management to make arrangements for having the ash generated in the burning process hauled away.

The new plant is providing jobs for three new Mayville State boiler operators. Donnel Rasquinha and his family recently moved to Mayville from St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Frank Trout has moved to Mayville from Howell, Michigan. Eric Willis and his family live in Hillsboro, N.D.

We are pleased to have this new facility that will free us from our dependence on expensive #2 fuel oil. The cost of constructing the plant is $5.5 million. The switch from burning fuel to coal will provide a net annual fuel savings of about $500,000. Savings from the cost of fuel will pay for the construction of the plant over a 15-year period.

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