VALLEY CITY, N.D. (PPR) – Valley City State University says it’s making progress with its plan to create an “activated carbon plant” on campus.

In 2015, the legislature approved a new heat plant for VCSU. That plant is up and running. As part of the construction of the heat plant, a plan for the activated carbon plant was included.

Wesley Wintch is VCSU’s vice-president for business affairs says that char is used to remove impurities from water or air.

Wintch says they’re also used in carbon capture at power plants.

In 2017, VCSU was granted permission to sell $22.5 million dollars in bonds for the plant’s construction. He says they have not yet been sold, as a feasibility study and a business plan needed to be written. He says that’s complete. And Wintch says an architect, an engineer and a general construction company have now completed a basic design and cost estimate. He says a financial adviser is now helping to get the bond issue ready for market – and that means writing the proposal in such a way for investors to understand it. He says they’re also looking for buyers for the activated carbon.

Wintch says the bond sale will likely happen in the spring.

By Dave Thompson Prairie Public Radio.