(Host) Dozens of Vermont schools may switch to new heating systems that save energy because of the high cost of fuel.

Fifteen million dollars could help pay for the conversions under a bill sponsored by Congressman Peter Welch.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.

(Kinzel) Over the past 20 years, roughly 30 Vermont schools have converted their heating systems from oil to wood. That number could increase dramatically if a bill adopted recently by the U.S. House wins approval this summer in the Senate.

That's because Congressman Peter Welch successfully added a provision to the federal school construction bill that allows schools to use these funds for renewable energy projects.

Under the legislation, Vermont would receive $15 million in grant money to help schools convert their heating systems.

(Welch) ``I think the federal government should be helping out with our school construction needs around the country. And what my amendment does is make it clear that schools can use this money that they may get to do a biomass project or alternative energy project to save the taxpayers money and contribute to solving global warming."

(Kinzel) Chris Recchia is the director of the Biomass Energy Resource Center, a group that works with schools on their renewable energy projects.

Recchia says most of the 31 schools that have made the transition are saving between 40 and 60 percent on their annual energy costs.

And he says as heating oil prices increase, more and more schools are interested in converting their heating systems.

(Recchia) ``The reality is now that, with fuel prices being where they are, there's a lot more interest in even the remaining schools that were maybe too small for wood chips, considering wood pellets or some other alternative. But we need to find something for these schools to survive because it's a substantial portion of the budget for each one."

(Kinzel) Recchia says these projects also benefit Vermont's forests.

(Recchia) ``We have 80 percent forested resources and all the northern forest is the largest contiguous forest resource in the eastern United States. We can use that in a sustainable, responsible way and help preserve forestry jobs, logging jobs and use the low grade wood that otherwise would be cut and left in place to manage for higher quality timber for energy purposes."

(Kinzel) The U.S. House adopted the legislation earlier this month by a wide margin and Congressman Welch expects the Senate will pass the bill later this summer.

For VPR News, I'm Bob Kinzel in Montpelier