Wiley|Wilson was commissioned by the University to thoroughly evaluate the existing infrastructure for generating steam, electric power, and chilled water on Penn State’s main campus at State College, Pennsylvania. The need to increase steam generation capability, as well as the age and condition of the existing plant, were prime considerations initiating the project. However, also very important to the University were the aspects of evaluating energy consumption by proposed system improvements over their life cycle, as well as providing emergency power for essential campus services in the event of a loss of utility power.

Further, Penn State came dangerously close to being affected by the 2003 Northeast Blackout, which created an impetus to plan for a medium-term loss of utility power. With a campus population of over 40,000 students and a location in the mountains of rural central Pennsylvania, the University determined that they needed to be prepared to endure a 3-day winter outage, while still providing shelter, food, and basic sanitation facilities.

Subsequently, we were commissioned to perform two design projects recommended in the report. The first project was to develop bridging documents for the construction of a 6-MW combustion turbine/heat recovery steam generator (CT/HRSG). This project has recently been completed. The second project was to provide construction documents for improvements to the electrical distribution system to allow connection of the CT/HRSG.

In 2008, we provided updates to life cycle cost models for the top four alternatives included in the original master plan, research into green house cap and trading and additional life cycle cost modeling to look at emissions costs.