IMPORTANT NEW QUESTION ON THE JUNE BALLOT!
In early March, our Director of Finance and Operations, Dan O’Shea, was made aware of federal stimulus money awards to be given out this spring for Maine public buildings, specifically to support wood-energy boiler conversions and the Maine forest products economy. Well, needless to say, we have been able to realize the cost and environmental benefits of the wood chip boiler heating the high school and new elementary school and jumped on the application, which had to be submitted by March 24th.
A new wood chip boiler would replace the two oil boilers at the Falmouth Middle School which are 1950s vintage. This conversion would ultimately lead to a switch from oil to wood as the primary heating fuel in all of our schools. If we were awarded the grant, the district would receive up to $500,000. The total cost of the project is expected to be $1.5 - $1.95 million for a new wood chip storage building and boiler, requiring a local funding differential of approximately $1-1.4 million. We anticipate dedicating $300,000 of capital funds to the project. Assuming a 15-year lease purchase for the balance of approximately $1.1 million (allowed since this is an energy efficiency upgrade), we would estimate a yearly payment of approximately $76,000. However, the cost SAVINGS would be approximately $100,000 annually based on current consumption and the price differential between oil and wood, thus covering the cost of any borrowing.
So, Question 3 on the ballot will be asking voters to approve the expenditure of funds for a new wood chip boiler, should the grant be awarded to Falmouth. If the grant is not awarded, the project scope and timing will need to be re-evaluated. Both the School Board and Town Council have unanimously voted to favorably recommend this project to the citizens of Falmouth.
In early March, our Director of Finance and Operations, Dan O’Shea, was made aware of federal stimulus money awards to be given out this spring for Maine public buildings, specifically to support wood-energy boiler conversions and the Maine forest products economy. Well, needless to say, we have been able to realize the cost and environmental benefits of the wood chip boiler heating the high school and new elementary school and jumped on the application, which had to be submitted by March 24th.
A new wood chip boiler would replace the two oil boilers at the Falmouth Middle School which are 1950s vintage. This conversion would ultimately lead to a switch from oil to wood as the primary heating fuel in all of our schools. If we were awarded the grant, the district would receive up to $500,000. The total cost of the project is expected to be $1.5 - $1.95 million for a new wood chip storage building and boiler, requiring a local funding differential of approximately $1-1.4 million. We anticipate dedicating $300,000 of capital funds to the project. Assuming a 15-year lease purchase for the balance of approximately $1.1 million (allowed since this is an energy efficiency upgrade), we would estimate a yearly payment of approximately $76,000. However, the cost SAVINGS would be approximately $100,000 annually based on current consumption and the price differential between oil and wood, thus covering the cost of any borrowing.
So, Question 3 on the ballot will be asking voters to approve the expenditure of funds for a new wood chip boiler, should the grant be awarded to Falmouth. If the grant is not awarded, the project scope and timing will need to be re-evaluated. Both the School Board and Town Council have unanimously voted to favorably recommend this project to the citizens of Falmouth.
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