Purdue seeks to shift from coal to gas power

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University is floating a plan to shift the campus from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas to meet its future heating and cooling needs.

School officials are seeking public comment on their new energy plan nearly a year after they canceled a $54 million plan to build a new coal-powered boiler on the West Lafayette campus.

Campus vice president for physical facilities Robert McMains tells the Journal & Courier the plan will reduce coal use on campus from three coal boilers to one while increasing cooling and heating to the campus.

The plan would cost an estimated $105 million in spending through 2021.

McMains says the public will have a voice in the decisions and can attend a Feb. 15 campus public hearing on the proposal.