Renewable and Alternative Energy Facilities
In 1982, the University's 72 year-old Power Plant was retrofitted to utilize wood chips, a renewable energy source, along with natural gas and oil. In 1993, the Biomass Processing Building was constructed on the west side of campus to produce paper pellets made from discarded clean paper and corrugated paper. Beginning in 2000, under U.S. Patent Number 6,49,694 the “animal waste to energy production” process using solid animal waste and dry agricultural feedstock from the University Farm operations was initiated to create a virtually odor-free fuel pellet. Along with wood chips and paper pellets this fuel source has reduced the University's dependence on fossil fuels by up to 80 percent. Together, these buildings are known as the Renewable and Alternative Energy Facilities.