School Referendum Includes Wood-Powered Heat
Katie Heinz, WEAU-TV (Eau Claire), reports on a school referendum that includes a wood-burning heating system:
Several Western Wisconsin school districts are putting referendums on the ballot this year.
But people living in one area school district will vote on a rather unusual proposal next month.
Voters in the Barron Area School District will check “yes” or “no” for a $3.1 million referendum, for climate control.
But not the kind of climate control you’re probably thinking of.
The district wants to heat the middle school – by burning wood.
For thousands of years, people have burned wood to create heat.
And that’s exactly what heats classrooms in the Barron High School.
This wood-powered steam plant has been the source of heat for the city’s high school, elementary school, hospital, nursing home and assisted living facility since 1981.
And now, school leaders are asking voters to approve a similar system in Riverview Middle School.
“It’s a great opportunity for us in barron to look ahead and burn renewable energy and save lots of money,” said Barron Area School District Superintendent Monti Hallberg.
Hallberg says it’s a method that’s four times cheaper than mainstream heating systems.
Here’s how it works.
A local company sells wood, from cut telephone poles to the district at a discount.
He says that amounts to 3,000 tons of wood chips and shavings.
The wood is then scooped up and taken by truck to this wood chip pit at the high school.
Hallberg says the heat from the burned wood boils water, creating steam that heats the school.
So is the system effective?
Hallberg says students and teachers alike sometimes complain it can get too hot.
“It’s tough to teach, tough for kids to learn, and tough to concentrate,” said Barron High School teacher Diane Sloan.
That’s why school leaders also added in the price of a new chiller to help moderate the temperature.
In addition, the district is applying for a renewable energy grant from the federal government that could help pay for some of the costs.
Voters will have the ultimate decision, on April 3.
