“Technology wizard” Chuck Tripp of Skanden Energy gives a tour of the Kingfield Elementary School woodfired boiler system last Sunday. The newest pellet boilers were expected to be commissioned early this week. Four of six MSAD #58 buildings will now be heated with either wood pellets or wood chips with more installations expected to follow. (David Hart photo) PHILLIPS — Phillips Elementary School is the latest recipient of a federally-funded grant that will allow the purchase and installation of an industrial wood pellet boiler to supplement or replace the oiled-fired units.

Currently Mt. Abram High School, Kingfield and Strong elementary schools and the bus maintenance garage in Salem are heated with wood. Phillips will be the fifth out of six buildings to be converted.

Governor Baldacci announced that six school and university oil-to-wood heating projects received more than $3.2 million in federal recovery funds. This is part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 managed by the Maine Forest Service, under the Department of Conservation.

Phillips was awarded $325,933 for the installation of a pellet boiler to supplement the current oil boiler to displace 25,000 gallons of fuel oil. The grant covers a large percentage of the entire cost of the project valued at $419,039.

The grant proposals went out in October and a total of 41 applications were received. Another round of applications will be called for this spring to round out a total of $11.4 million that was made available to the state through various departments.

“The short term goals for the grant program are to create and maintain jobs in Maine, to achieve energy savings through wood-to-energy installations, reduce dependence on non-renewal energy resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable forestry,” according to David Farmer of the Governor’s office.

“Wood fired systems are going to be used in a stable fuel market with stable prices in the future,” Chuck Tripp of Skanden Energy said while making the final adjustments to the Kingfield system. “One of the problems will be the initial investment. It’s going to be up the government to provide real tax incentives so that we can all make this work.”

MSAD #58 is a state-wide leader in making this transition happen through grants and its own initiatives. After Mt. Abram High School’s wood pellet furnace was installed under a different grant, Gov. Baldacci and DOC commissioner Patrick McGowen visited the new MTA boiler facility last year. MSAD #58’s accomplishments have initiated interest and been the catalyst for this new grant process, stated a Governor’s office press release.

Greenville, Poland, Oxford Hills and Houlton schools and the University of Maine Corporate Extension Presque Isle Office are also in receipt of this round of grant funding.