Ball State to stop burning coal at campus plant

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State University officials are planning to stop burning coal at the campus steam plant sometime in March.

Campus engineering director Jim Lowe says the university will continue using three natural gas-fired boilers to produce steam for heating and hot water for the Muncie campus. The move will end the burning of up to 36,000 tons of coal a year in its four coal-fired boilers.

Lowe tells The Star Press that it doesn’t make sense for Ball State to invest in expensive new emission control equipment when its new geothermal system should be completed next year.

Lowe says the school’s $70 million geothermal project has already reduced needed steam production by 40 percent.