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All FP&M Questions & Answers

Sustainability

What is UW-Madison’s strategy and timeline to decarbonize its fuel source for the Heating and Cooling plants located at Charter Street and Walnut Street?

asked by Travis Blomberg, Sustainability 

At this time, UW-Madison does not have a formalized strategy and timeline to decarbonize its fuel source related to its central heating and cooling plants. However, we are looking at multiple ways to address fuel sources. Fuel consumed at our central heating and cooling plants accounts for approximately 40% of campus’ total greenhouse gas emissions.

For purchased electricity, we are actively partnering with MG&E on diversifying their fuel sources with projects like the O’Brien Solar Fields. We are also strategizing about how to transform our infrastructure to be renewable-ready.

While we are working under the State of Wisconsin’s goals of carbon-free electricity by 2050, we know that timeline is insufficient to address the climate crisis and we are developing strategies that have the highest impact and that can be accomplished with urgency. Ultimately, every person on campus has a role to play in conserving energy and thinking intentionally about energy and electricity usage in everything we do, from lighting to fume hoods and wi-fi usage.

For all new construction and major renovation building projects, will they be required to include HVAC systems that are “renewable ready”? Meaning, will these new projects be required to have “hybrid” systems such as whole building electrification (or other renewable energy sources) and the current high-pressure steam/chilled water system. Or…will new construction and major renovation building projects be designed to use a 100% renewable energy source or be 100% electrified (with the assumption that the grid will become electrified overtime). 

asked by Travis Blomberg, Sustainability

At this time, UW-Madison does not have a requirement for new construction and major renovation building projects to be completely “renewable-ready” or to be designed for 100% renewable energy.

The university is developing sustainability standards for construction, renovations, and infrastructure. Current and future energy sources utilized in the campus central heating and cooling plants are an important consideration. The current and future fuel mix of purchased energy from private utility companies (We Energies, Alliant Energy) will also factor into the systems that are designed in the facility.

 

Finance

What is the status of our operating budget and ability to meet market rate based compensation now that TTC has been rolled out?

FP&M’s fiscal 2022 budget includes resources to support current operating plans as well as certain special projects.  Regarding market rate based compensation in connection with TTC, FP&M will work with campus to develop a long-range strategy to address any market deficiencies.  Campus is committed to find problems and resolve them, which includes prioritizing and allocating future resources to eliminate the deficiencies.

What is the current financial state of campus and of FP&M?

FP&M’s fiscal 2022 budget includes resources to support current operating plans as well as certain special projects.  New resources that require incremental budget in future years are being evaluated and FP&M will present these to campus for approval in connection with the fiscal 2023 budget exercise.  From a campus perspective, Chancellor Blank noted in her October 4, 2021 “State of the University” that losses during the pandemic have been significantly less than expected.  She indicated that we will be in reasonably good shape from a financial perspective because: 1) we were on a very strong financial footing going into the pandemic, 2) we received substantial federal funding that helped offset some losses from the pandemic, and 3) we are going into the current year with no overhanging budget problems from the pandemic.