MARQUETTE -- Construction for the new Ripley heating plant on the campus of Northern Michigan University is moving forward, and according to officials, the project is right on schedule.
The renewable energy facility will produce almost 90 percent of the energy currently being supplied by burning fossil fuels and over 15 percent of of NMU's electricity purchased from the Marquette Board of Light and Power.
So far, they've installed the facility's furnace and ash catching equipment, and the boiler was next.
"I think this is a really good opportunity for stewardship because we're going to be using a renewable energy source that comes from the U.P., so the dollars for that will stay here rather than going to gas companies," said Project Manager, Gisele Duehring.
NMU is expecting over $300,000 per year in energy saving costs with the new plant.
Construction is scheduled to done by spring of 2013.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC