Texas A&M has received a $10 million federal grant that will help build a $70 million combined heat and power generation system to meet the 5,200-acre campus' growing energy needs.
The university was one of more than 400 applicants that received the Department of Energy grant, which will be used to replace aging equipment and save money through reduced energy use, officials said.
"There's a number of benefits, including reduced energy consumption, cost savings and the environmental impact with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint," said Jim Riley, the university's director for utilities and energy management.
Funding for the grant -- which came from federal stimulus money -- was finalized in August. The CHP project was approved by regents in 2009, and is set to be complete by the end of 2011.
New buildings have resulted in an 18 percent increase since 2002 in overall square footage. Even so, Riley said, energy consumption has been reduced by 23 percent in that time.
"Energy efficiency improvements and conservation have resulted in cost avoidance totaling over $106 million since 2002, but there is still much more progress to be made to optimize the use of energy in campus facilities," Riley said.
Other initiatives are unfolding across the campus to bolster energy conservation. Low-interest loans from the state through stimulus funding financed air conditioning, heating control systems and lighting upgrades in 24 campus facilities, Riley said, adding that savings from the energy reduction will allow the university to repay the $15 million in loans over 10 years.
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