Granby Schools Consider Fuel Switch

Board of Education members will decide at next week’s meeting whether to convert the town’s school buildings from oil burners to gas as Connecticut Natural Gas iinstalls gas lines in the area.

Business Manager Harry Traver brought the question to the board Wednesday night, needing a near immediate answer, since Granby Town Manager Bill Smith must sign a contract with the gas company next week. Smith will bring the issue of whether to convert the town buildings to gas before the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night, Traver said.

Switching fuels in the district’s buildings – Kearns, Granby Memorial Middle and High Schools and the central office building – would save the district an estimated $155,000 per year. Initial cost would be between $160,000 - $185,000, Traver said.

Board members noted it would take just over a year to recoup the project’s costs.

The cost of natural gas has tended to be much lower than that of oil, though pricing is subject to change, board Chairman Cal Heminway.

That possibility had members speculating that dual-fuel burners, allowing the district to use either or both gas or oil, might be the best option.

Board members were generally supportive of the idea but requested the extra week to fully consider the issue.