NMU new power plant update

Northern Michigan University’s new combined heating and power plant is taking shape. Crews began work on it this past spring. The new plant is being built on Wright Street next to the current Ripley Power Plant.

The two plants will work side by side to provide NMU’s campus with power, and steam. The new bio mass plant will also give the university some new fuel options.

The new plant will help reduce NMU’s operating costs. It’ll produce more than 85% of the heat needed on campus. And it’ll produce about 16% of  NMU’s electricity.

The project will cost the university around $16,000,000 to build. Officials say they expect to start using the new plant by the spring of 2013.