From the introduction of the new Gold Certified Langdon Woods to the energy-efficient, newly renovated Mary Lyon Hall, Plymouth State University has been heralded for its efforts in keeping a green lifestyle.

And it hasn't stopped there, with PSU announcing a new feasibility study focused on heating.

"This is a campus working on green initiatives for long time," said PSU President Sara Jayne Steen. "We have been moving forward, especially in the last few years, with LEED gold certifications and historic preservation of buildings like Mary Lyon. This is something we are very proud of here at Plymouth State."

The Center for Rural Partnerships, working in collaboration with North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council and the State Forester Phil Bryce, has received funding from the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a feasibility study. It would be focused on PSU's existing co-generation plant and would look into the benefits of switching from fossil fuels to sustainably-harvested woody biomass from local forests.

Rick DeMark, speaker for North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, said that the project has two focuses: to conduct feasibility studies and to inform the public by holding various workshops. He also said that tours will be held at existing plants using woody biomass, whether they were built this way or converted as many have recently. He said that tours and workshops are scheduled to begin this February.

DeMark said that the Plymouth State project is just one component of the New Hampshire Community Scale BioMass Heating Project. This is a statewide, institution-scale biomass initiative, which will move toward establishing a biomass plant at Bear Brook State Park, PSU and three other institutions that have yet to be named.

The study also includes the N.H. State Forester, Phil Bryce of the Department of Economic Development, the UNH Cooperative Extension and the North Country RC & D.

"PSU would become a model for other institutions regionwide and provide numerous learning opportunities for students and visitors," said CRP Director Thad Guldbrandsen. "Converting PSU's co-gen plant could go a long way in achieving carbon neutrality on campus, because heat and electricity is our major source of carbon emissions."

Conversion from fossil fuels to a renewable energy source, along with sustainable forestry has a number of positive attributes, according to Guldbrandsen.

"This advances the mission of the regional comprehensive university in numerous ways," said Guldbrandsen. "By efficiently using sustainably-harvested wood, we would contribute to the well being of the New Hampshire forests and forest-based economy."

According to information from Plymouth State University, the feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by next August.

The CRP is currently working with the President's Commission on Environmental Sustainability (PCES) to implement the feasibility study.

Bryce noted the importance of using biomass, especially in schools such as Plymouth State and other public institutions.

"The institutional use of biomass for schools and other public facilities serves as a way of connecting communities with the stewardship of our forest resources in addition to addressing the need to offset the production of greenhouse gases," Bryce said.

For more information, contact the Center for Rural Partnerships at PSU at 535-3275.