SOU to Install New Natural Gas Boilers

(Ashland, Ore.) —The Southern Oregon University Board of Trustees Finance Committee voted on Thursday to replace aging heating systems with updated natural gas boilers. The University had previously considered replacing its existing system with either biomass boilers or a biomass cogeneration facility.
“The Finance Committee and SOU administration have been reviewing and closely examining the issue for more than a year now,” said Paul Nicholson, chair of the finance committee. “At this time we feel that the best decision for SOU and our entire community is to update and replace existing technology,” added Bill Thorndike, chair of the board of trustees.
Of the options being considered, natural gas boilers are expected to have the lowest initial cost and low costs for ongoing operations.
The University will seek capital funding from the Oregon Legislature in order to pay for the project.
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Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.