FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning for its $11 million central heating plant near Perkins and Quebec streets.

The biomass plant represents a two-year effort to determine how to best heat the campus, Kathryn A. Foster, UMF president, told the gathering.

“We are very excited about UMF’s energy future that will soon include this new, sustainable, local fuel source,” she said in a release. “Adding biomass to our existing geothermal commitment further diversifies our energy portfolio and greatly reduces our reliance upon fossil fuels.”

The 5,885-square-foot biomass plant is expected to advance not only UMF but also the community because it will run on wood chips, a plant-based, locally sourced fuel.

The system is expected to replace 390,000 gallons of oil and reduce the university’s carbon emissions by 3,000 tons a year. Energy savings are expected to cover the cost and provide payback within 10 years.

Foster expressed gratitude to several who worked on the project, including the Board of Trustees, the President’s Council, the UMF Board of Visitors and the UMF Energy Team.

The UMaine System has been a leader in environmental research, conservation and efficiency issues, UMaine Trustee Carl Turner said. The system has moved away from coal and oil to include energy sources such as wood, solar, wind and geothermal, which UMF uses, he said.

Wood chips will provide jobs for local loggers and truckers, Drew Barton, biology professor and co-founder of the UMF Sustainable Campus Coalition, told the gathering.

“We are trading jobs for foreign oil companies for jobs in our community,” he said.

Sulphur and nitrogen emissions will be reduced with a potential for reducing carbon emissions by 95 percent, he said. This year, UMF is expected to be heated using 3 percent oil, 10 percent propane, 8 percent geothermal and 79 percent wood, he said.

An added benefit of the project is that students will have the opportunity to learn about biomass and sustainable forestry, he said.

The plant control room will be open to students and visitors to view the internal operations and several exterior viewing areas, according to a UMF news release.

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