Web exclusive posted May 28, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. CST

One of the last coal-fired heating systems being used in a Colorado public school was shut down May 19, as the South Routt School District prepared to make the change to woody biomass heating system.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter attended the event and symbolically shoveled the last scoop of coal into the Soroco High School furnace in Oak Creek, Colo., to "commemorate change", said Megan Castle, director of communications for Governor Ritter's Energy Office.

The out-dated coal-fired system had been in place since around the 1930s, Castle said, adding it may have been updated in the 1950's. The out-going coal-fired system was unhealthy, required 30 percent maintenance time for operation and the school would often have ash within it, Castle said.

The school district's effort is consistent with Ritter's three-point objective to develop a new energy economy, improve the schools and quality of education by reducing energy costs, and building healthy forests, Castle said. With the new heating system the school is expected to save money and time, reduce maintenance and improve the health of those in the facility.

The celebratory event was school-wide with participation from the student body's "Green Team" and the announcement of a scholarship to be awarded by the McKinstry Company, which will install the new system. The wood pellets, which will come from local pine beetle kill, will be supplied by Confluence Energy, based in nearby Kremmling, Colo.

Woody biomass heating systems provide jobs for rural and mountain areas, a clean energy source, and solutions to the pine beetle kill problem, said Castle, adding, this is also an important step for Colorado's healthy forest initiatives.