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MISSOULA - Administrators at the University of Montana are moving forward with plans to build a new biomass plant on campus.

The facility would reduce the university's carbon footprint by 20% while also helping the school achieve its stated goal of being carbon-neutral by the year 2020.

Biomass plants burn wood chips to create a low-emission fuel. That energy would then be used to produce steam for the campus' heating system.

The plant would be built just east of Aber Hall.

"It would reduce natural gas consumption by 60%. That's almost unheard of. There is no other campus in the Northwest who can do that," commented UM Executive Vice President Jim Foley.

He added that the plant proposal will be heard by the Board of Regents sometime in the next few weeks, and if it's approved then construction would begin as soon as possible.