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Louisiana Tech outlines plan to leave campus power plant, projects annual net savings
Summary
Louisiana Tech officials told the budget committee they plan to disconnect campus buildings from the university's cogeneration plant and connect to local utilities; the university estimates about $1.6 million in gross annual savings with estimated annual debt service of $1.2 million, yielding roughly $400,000–$500,000 in net savings.
Dr. Dickie Crawford, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Louisiana Tech University, presented an agreement with Innovative Student Facilities to disconnect campus buildings from the university's cogeneration power plant and convert utility service to local providers.
"Our hard savings cost from not operating annually our own power plant is going to be a little over $1,600,000 a year and the annual estimated debt service would be just 1,200,000.0," Crawford told the committee, adding that even after debt service the university expects annual savings of "4 to 500,000 a year." (Dr. Dickie Crawford)
Crawford described the campus distribution system as dated — in place since the early 1940s — and said the university plans to purchase new chillers and boilers so buildings can be served by the city of Ruston and local gas providers. He said the change affects academic buildings on the main campus; he declined to provide an exact headcount for people served in every building.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether the LTRI building in Bossier would be served by the conversion; Crawford said it would not. A committee member asked how many people the power plant currently serves; Crawford said most served buildings are academic and are occupied daily, but did not supply a full building-by-building user count on the record.
The item was presented for review and required no committee motion. The agreement and the projected savings will proceed through the university's required procurement and financing steps.
