MSU To Develop $90M Power System

Montclair State University is partnering with a private energy company to develop a $90 million combined heating, cooling and power system (CHCP) for the school’s campus, according to an announcement the school made last week.

From the release:

This $90 million public-private partnership – the second for Montclair State and only the third statewide – will enable the University to replace its current heating and cooling system without construction funding being required of either the University or the state of New Jersey. The new state-of-the-art facility and its related infrastructure improvements will replace the campus’ existing energy plant, which began generating steam in the 1940s and providing electricity as a co-generation plant in 1993. The project’s development will result in more cost-effective, efficient, and reliable delivery of heating, cooling, and electrical services to campus buildings.

MSU President Susan A. Cole said in the release, “The new CHCP plant is not only an example of the University’s entrepreneurial management of its scarce financial resources, it also reflects our campus-wide commitment to environmental conservation and alternative energy.”

The project will be developed by Energenic-US, LLC, which will design, build, operate and maintain the plant on property that they lease from MSU for a 30-year term.  It is expected to take 18 months to complete and to employ around 400 people.

For you energy wonks out there, here are some more specifics from the release:

The plant will provide natural gas-fired electric generation, chilled water, and steam for heat. The steam, condensate, and chilled water will be delivered to and returned from campus buildings via the new energy distribution system. The majority of the campus’ electricity requirements will be satisfied by the onsite plant, which will be designed to operate continuously producing electric power of approximately 5.4 megawatts. The plant will be located on Yogi Berra Drive, adjacent to the campus’ Car Parc Diem parking garage.

The University is no stranger to ambitious (and green) projects. The Heights — the largest campus residence and dining complex in the state — was the first public-private partnership to be developed under the state’s Economic Stimulus Act.  MSU recently released an economic impact statement that declared the school has contributed $396.5 million to the state economy over the past year and has created 8,500 jobs.

They have certainly been on a spending spree. In addition to the Heights, MSU has recently announced expansion plans that include a $55 million science building, a new school of Communication and Media and a new student residence hall. All will be funded through a $330 million budget, alternative grants and private donations.  Then there’s the new center for entrepreneurship at the School of Business which was recently kicked off with a $1 million donation from an alum.

The University has more grand plans for the future: it was one of a list of NJ colleges and universities that contributed to a $5.9 billion “wish list” to the state in an effort receive funding for programs, renovations and expansions. MSU’s list included 11 projects and totaled $415 million, which includes some of the projects mentioned above.