Staff from DEP’s energy office were among those on hand January 29 for a demonstration of a successful biomass green energy project at Hughesville Junior-Senior High School in the East Lycoming School District.

More than 30 industry professionals were present for the “Willow for Energy Field Day Harvest demonstration of the district’s $2.3 million project that combined the installation of a biomass heating system with the planting of 40 acres of hybrid willow to be harvested for wood chips as a fuel source. 

The project, which got underway in 2009, was partially funded with a $800,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.

The biomass boiler and conveyor were installed in 2010, followed by the planting of the willow that spring.  The district continues to purchase wood chips from local growers until its crop of willow is established and can be harvested for use in the boiler.  The district anticipates saving $30,000 annually in heating costs.

According to the Williamsport Sun Gazette, only 10 schools in Pennsylvania, including colleges, use wood chip-boiler heating, and Hughesville is the only high school in the nation that now is harvesting its own biomass product.

(Reprinted from Feb. 6 DEP News)

2/10/2014