Lost Studies Might Have Saved Time & Money

The proposed steam transmission line between the McNeil Generating Station and the University of Vermont Medical Center (an organization and facility that is distinct from the University) is a train wreck of a project. We could anticipate its 2023 crash from way back in 1984, or 1994, or 2004, or 2014.

It may not even be necessary to know or understand the three essential elements of a good district system to judge the proposed steam pipe project. Consider the long history of studies and reports, all of which have resulted in "No Go" outcomes. And then add the fact that Burlington Electric Department, the operator of McNeil on behalf of 9 other Vermont utilities, has lost track of most of those studies. That kind of knowledge management does not inspire confidence.

BED is only able to find 4 of 14 historical thermal project studies related to McNeil. There should be several more studies published since 2018, as BED has been spending money liberally in support of the project -- money taken out of its efficiency fund.

I made a public records request in August for the reports. The response was not good, so I followed up by giving a list of 13 known documents. The response was still not good: the City of Burlington could only find 4 documents.

Here is the current list (a 2017 study was added for a total of 14):

1973: Beardsley, William; a district heating study

1977: “Refuse-Wood Power Plant/Aquaculture/Greenhouse - A Conceptual Study"

1980: William Cosulich Associates; “Feasibility Study of Solid Waste Management Alternatives for Burlington, Vermont"

1983: BED; “Cogeneration and Waste Heat Utilization"

1992: Burlington District Energy Corporation; “Burlington Community Energy Project Pre-feasibility Report"

1994: Joseph Technology Corporation Inc. for BED; a district heating and district cooling study

1996: Kattner/FVB for BED; a district heating study

1998: Joseph Technology Corporation Inc. for BED; a district heating study

2002: RDA Engineering for BED; a validation study of a district heating system

2011: Ever-Green for BED; a district heating study

2014: Ever-Green for BED; a district energy study

2017: Corix for BED; a district heating feasibility analysis

2018: Yanke Engineering for BED; a balance of plant impact study

2018: GE for BED; an evaluation of steam extraction's effect on the McNeil turbine

If you know of additional studies or reports, including economic as well as engineering efforts, please let me know.