Taft Breaks Ground for Ohio University's Clean Coal Burning Project

Contact: George E. Mauzy Jr., (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (April 23, 2001) -- Ohio Governor Bob Taft joined Ohio University officials today to break ground on a $6.4 million clean coal-burning project at the university's Lausche Heating Plant.

Taft was also joined by representatives of the Ohio Coal Development Office and researchers from Sorbent Technologies Corp. of Twinsburg, the university's partner in the project. Sorbent Technologies Corp. owns the patent on the coal-fired heating process that will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. The system could also help the university save up to $1 million a year in energy costs.

The key ingredient in the new coal-fired heating process is Fluesorbent, a patented material that neutralizes sulfur dioxide in the flue gas stream. The sulfur dioxide is absorbed into a substance of hydrated lime placed on a bed of porous vermiculite or perlite. That by-product might then be used as fertilizer.

The process, which was designed for small plants, will allow the Lausche plant to burn more of southeastern Ohio's high-sulfur coal. The plant provides steam heat and hot water to about 190 university buildings

"We see this as a win-win project," Ohio University President Robert Glidden stated. "Thanks to support from the Governor's office and our research partnership, we'll be able to burn coal from this region, which should help us economically."

"The good news is that we have found a cleaner way to burn more Ohio coal," said Sherwood Wilson, the university's Associate Vice President for Administration for Facilities and Auxiliaries. "As a bonus, the by-product won't be going to a landfill, but could be used as an agricultural fertilizer. That also helps out the environment."

Ohio University will invest $1.35 million in capital and in-kind commitments such as space, staff hours and utilities in the project. Sorbent Technology has invested $500,000 and Schmidt Engineering has contributed $50,000. The project's initial stages involve design, development and construction of the system at the heating plant.

"This coal-burning process gives us an opportunity to significantly improve on both the environmental and economic fronts," Ohio University Director of Facilities Management Terry Conry said.

The project also will be used as a learning tool for Russ College of Engineering students, who will be able to work at the plant through a co-op program, according to Mick Harris, Director, Maintenance and Operations, Facilities Management Division.