SUMMARY OF A TOUR BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL

HILL, UNC BOILER PLANT, THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1992 AT 9:30 A.M.

The briefing and tour of the University of North Carolina Boiler Plant commenced at 9:33 a.m. Mayor Kenneth S. Broun and Council Members Joyce Brown, Joe Capowski, Mark Chilton and Joe Herzenberg were in attendance. Also in attendance were Town Manager Cal Horton, Assistant to the Manager Greg Feller, and Town Clerk Peter Richardson.

Tom Grisham, Facility Operating Engineer, provided a brief explanation of the plant's operations. Council Member Capowski inquired about the temperature of steam at the facility. Mr. Grisham said the steam temperature was approximately 900 degrees farenheit, while the water temperature was an estimated 250 degrees farenheit. Council Member Capowski inquired whether water was recycled at the plant. Mr. Grisham said yes, noting that the facility used 30,000 to 100,000 gallons per day, contingent on demand. Council Member Capowski asked whether the water was purchased from the Orange Water and Sewer Authority. Mr. Grisham said yes. Mayor Broun inquired whether the plant was used to heat and cool both University and hospital buildings. Mr. Grisham said yes, noting that the plant was designed to provide sufficient future capacity through the year 2010 or 2020. Council Member Capowski inquired about plant's production capacity. Mr. Grisham provided a brief overview of the plant's capacities. Council Member Capowski inquired whether Duke Power purchased electricity from the plant. Mr. Grisham said this was correct.

Council Member Capowski inquired about the approximate total electrical load at the university. Mr. Grisham said the total load was somewhat less than twenty megawatts. Council Member Capowski inquired whether the West Cameron Avenue Boiler Plant could meet all the University's power needs. Mr. Grisham said no, noting that the plant was one of three power supply stations for the university. Mr. Horton noted that the primary function of the plant was not to generate electricity. He said the plant served as a peak-shaver facility. Council Member Capowski inquired whether the boilers could be operated at a lower rate when there were lesser demands. Mr. Grisham said yes.

Mr. Grisham and Raymond Dubose led the group on a tour of the facility. Mr. Grisham noted that the plant had approximately three months of coal capacity on hand to handle possible emergencies. Council Member Capowski inquired whether the coal silos were covered by roofs. Mr. Grisham said yes. He briefly described the coal conveyor system. Mr. Dubose provided an overview of the control room at the plant.

Council Member Brown whether the plant was equipped with scrubbers. Mr. Grisham said no. Noting that the plant was runing well below permitted pollutant levels, Mr. Grisham said that frequent reports on plant operations were provided to the Environmental Protection Agency. Noting the concern of some boiler plant neighbors about bright lights at the plant at night, Council Member Capowski inquired about the feasibility of installing translucent window covering on the plant's windows. Mr. Grisham noted that no appropriate materials were currently available for this purpose. Mr. Grisham added that he would be willing to forward a newsletter on power plant operations to interested Council Members.

Council Member Capowski inquired about the possibility of installing soft materials inside the plant to decrease noise levels. Mr. Grisham noted that an acoustical engineer had recently been hired to examine such options and to initiate work on compliance with Town special use permit standards for decibel levels. Council Member Capowski inquired whether newspaper could be used as a fuel source at the boiler plant. Mr. Grisham responded that newspaper was not a very good fuel source. Council Member Brown noted that there were a variety of environmental concerns about solid waste incineration. Mr. Grisham said this was correct.

The tour and briefing concluded at 10:52 a.m.