Uninterrupted and stable power is essential for the multi-faceted medical and research programs on our campus. To meet those vital needs, UMass Chan operates a combined heat and power co-generation plant that produces all of the steam and chilled water needed to condition our buildings and nearly 90 percent of the electricity used on campus.
Originally built in the 1970s, the plant has been transformed over the years with a continuous program of upgrades to meet growing needs and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plant now uses natural gas, with oil reserves on site only as a back-up emergency fuel.
Generating electricity on campus saves up to 30-percent of the fuel that would have been used by a distant power plant. This occurs because power is lost when transported great distances, so more must be generated to compensate for those line-losses.
In 2024 the campus’s first geothermal system was installed to help heat and cool the Paul J. DiMare Center.
