Corrections officials this week dedicated a cogeneration plant at the State Correctional Institution at Laurel Highlands that generates electricity and steam using methane gas from an area landfill.

"We look forward to protecting our state's environment through the operation of this state-of-the-art plant while, at the same time, reducing utility costs at our prison," Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said.

Officials dedicated the plant to the memory of Robert Calik, who served as the department's Bureau of Operations director, with a plaque on the building. Calik, who died in 2008, played a key role in coordinating efforts between the department and Johnson Controls to bring this plant to fruition. His family attended Tuesday’s ceremony.

Working with Johnson Controls, the prison's cogeneration plant produces electricity and steam using gas from the nearby Mostoller Landfill. The renewable energy resource eliminates the need for the prison to use coal-fired boilers.

Excess electricity produced by the plant is sold back to the power grid, creating ongoing revenue for the prison and helping to offset project costs.

In addition to the cogeneration plant project, a number of facility upgrades to roofing, lighting, windows, plumbing, hot water tanks in several housing units and building controls were made to the prison, optimizing energy and water use.

"Energy conservation measures will drastically reduce carbon emissions," said Robert Scott Sr., performance assurance specialist at Johnson Controls.

As an added benefit to the community, this improvement work created an estimated 30 construction jobs.

7/23/2012