News

Branch & Associates, Inc. joined Longwood University for the celebration and opening of the new biomass heating plant on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in a ribbon cutting event.  The ceremony took place at the site of the new heating plant adjacent to the University's original plant which was commissioned in 1938.

Branch & Associates began construction on the project in July 2008, bringing the new plant on-line in July of 2010.  The new plant is designed to spontaneously burn sawdust to maintain steam supply for all heat and hot water to their campus buildings.  The campus normally uses between 10,000 to 35,000 pounds of steam per hour.  Each boiler produces a maximum of 20,000 pounds of steam per hour and one boiler supplies 80% of annual heat and hot water to campus buildings.

 "To be part of such a potentially industry-changing project such as this was very rewarding," commented Craig Floyd, president of Branch.  "We all took pride in knowing that we were part of a biomass project that uses a renewable energy resource as the primary fuel source, thereby reducing consumption of fossil fuels". The new heating plant contains two biomass boilers; one new boiler and one that has been relocated from the old heating plant.  Sawdust used to supply the boiler facility will be purchased from several sawmills within the local area. The new heating plant consumes between 20-40 tons of sawdust per day based on weather conditions and student population.  "With an eye always kept on the finish line, we all pushed hard to work through numerous design and construction challenges unique to this new technology," said Dan Deter, Project Manager for Branch. "The project cost the University $12 million but will save the University nearly $2.8 million annually by utilizing sawdust instead of fossil fuels".  

Participating in the ceremony were Patrick Finnegan, President of Longwood University, Richard W. Bratcher, Vice President for facilities management at Longwood  University,  and  Laura  Fornash, Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  President Craig Floyd, Project Manager Dan Deter, Pproject Executive, Jason McCune, and Marlene Evans represented Branch & Associates at the ceremony.  This project continues an ongoing relationship with Longwood University that began several years back with the completion of Phase II of Brock Commons, a community-friendly environment and focal point for the University.