Feds earmark $1.5 million to Fuels for Schools in Montana
By GREG LEMON Staff Reporter
If President Bush puts his John Hancock on the federal spending package for fiscal year 2005, then the Montana Fuels for Schools program stands to receive $1.5 million.
The bill package passed both the U.S House and Senate last week and now is headed for the White House.
In all, $194 million is earmarked for Montana projects.
Funding for the state's Fuels for Schools program equals what they received last year, said program coordinator Tom Coston.
Some of the money will go to administration costs and some to feasibility studies at schools that want to install biomass boilers, he said.
"The lion's share will go to grants to communities that have good candidates for demonstrating biomass systems," Coston said.
About 12 communities will receive requests for proposals, he said. These communities have completed feasibility studies and will have a couple of weeks to respond with a grant proposal.
"You ask them to propose how they would accomplish the joint objective," said Coston.
The Fuels For Schools program has worked with both the Darby and Victor school districts to install biomass boilers, which burn wood chips and can potentially save a school thousands of dollars in heating costs. Last year Darby's biomass boiler saved the school more than $40,000. Victor's biomass boiler fired up in October. Phillipsburg is next, and Coston is hopeful the trend will continue.
Feasibility studies have been completed on schools in Troy, Libby, Bonner and Seeley Lake, he said, and a study is currently being conducted at University of Montana Western in Dillion whichshould be completed by the end of December.
The grant money would be administered through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Service State and Private Forestry program, he said.
Coston is hopeful that biomass boilers will eventually be affordable enough that schools won't need grant money to install one. Smaller, less expensive boilers are available, and a school may eventually be able to install one with its own money, but that is still down the road.
"We may be a year away from anybody seriously considering going ahead (without grant money) but I think it's right around the corner," he said.
The grant money will fund up to 50 percent of a project.
"Then the facility has to come up with the other 50 percent," said Coston.
Coston was appreciative of Montana Senator Conrad Burns, who announced the money in a press release Nov. 22.
"You can always say you can use more money, but to use it wisely we don't want too much more and I think this is adequate," said Coston. "Congress and particularly Senator Burns have walked the extra mile to make sure we get adequate funding."
Senator Burns is also excited about the program.
"The 'Fuels for Schools' program has shown exceptional promise in offering real solutions to the challenges facing both our state and our nation," said Burns in a statement released Monday. "This is a winning program that can benefit the entire state, and in my book that makes for a worthwhile investment."
Reporter Greg Lemon can be reached at 363-3300 or at glemon@ravallirepublic.com
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