UW-Stevens Point: UWSP spring colloquium series looks at the campus biomass boiler project

University Relations and Communications, 715-346-3046, Fax 715-346-2042, http://www.uwsp.edu/news

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point spring colloquium series on renewable wood resources for energy continues with a lecture about the university’s biomass boiler project on Wednesday, March 17.

The discussion will be led by Bob Oehler, director of facility services, and Carl Rasmussen, director of facilities planning and space management, along with Al Andersen, president of A.L. Andersen Companies of Waunakee, at 4 p.m. in Room 120 of the Trainer Natural Resources Building. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Oehler, director of facility services since 2007, oversees building maintenance and waste management campuswide, as well as the central heating plant. A UWSP alumnus, Oehler earned a master’s degree at Michigan State University while serving as an officer in the U.S. Army. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Oehler directed housing operations maintenance and environment at UC Berkeley.

Rasmussen has been director of facilities planning and space management since 1990. He has overseen construction projects at UWSP totaling more than $200 million. Rasmussen holds a degree from UW-Green Bay and is a licensed Wisconsin commercial building Inspector. He received the Academic Staff Excellence Award in 2005.

Andersen has more than 37 years of experience in designing and equipping solid fuel energy systems. He is president of the Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association and has served as a technical adviser to the Council of Great Lakes Governors. His company provides clients with biomass systems.

The next lecture will be Wed, March 31, with Ken Skog of the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory in Madison.

The series, co-sponsored by the College of Natural Resources and the biology department in the College of Letters and Science, is coordinated by John DuPlissis, forestry outreach specialist, 715-346-4128.