U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar today welcomed news that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $5 million grant to Ball State University and a $1.3 million grant to the Indiana Institute of Technology for geothermal energy projects. Both awards were a part of the Ground Source Heat Pump Demonstrations category.

 

Ball State University will receive $5,000,000 to replace coal fired boiler systems across its campus with Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) systems. Indiana Tech will receive $1,339,591 to install a GHP system that will use carbon dioxide as the cooling medium.

 

At the May 9, 2009 Ball State University Commencement Ceremony, Lugar said, “About six months ago, I received a message from leaders at Ball State. They told me that the campus’ current coal-fired boilers have outlived their usefulness and new solutions for powering this campus would have to be found. The easiest solution would have been to swap an old coal system for a new one. Instead, Ball State leaders, with the collaboration of many students and community members, were inspired to find a solution that is better for the local economy, better for the environment and better for our nation’s security. This community had a vision for powering the campus with geothermal power.”

 

 

“The potential financial and energy savings in America’s buildings are tremendous. Buildings account for about 40 percent of America’s total energy consumption and 72 percent of our electricity consumption,” said Lugar. “A study by the DOE found that aggressive deployment of geothermal technology could save Americans 33 to 38 billion dollars by 2030, just a generation from now.”

 

 

Questions regarding the federal grants application process may be directed to Andrew Mills, Grants Coordinator for Senator Lugar, by phone at 202-224-4814 or by email at grants@lugar.senate.gov.

 

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