Ball State to Install Geothermal System

摘要

Ball State University announced plans to eliminate its four coal-fired stoker boilers and convert its central heating and cooling system to one tapping geothermal energy to serve more than 40 campus buildings. The university plans to drill 3,750 geothermal wells, each 400-ft deep, in open areas of campus beginning in May. The $66 million project was approved by Ball State's board of trustees and is expected to take anywhere from 5 to 12 years to complete, depending on funding availability. The university plans to ask the state legislature to reappropriate $40 million for the project that had previously been approved to replace the boilers. It also hopes the school can take advantage of federal stimulus money intended to support renewable energy projects.