A federal grant will pay part of the costs of converting the schools' oil-based heating systems to ones that burn wood pellets or chips. 

Six school and university oil-to-wood heating projects in Maine are sharing more than $3.2 million in federal Recovery Act money. The money will partially fund energy conversions for five school systems across the state and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Presque Isle office.

The new heating systems are designed to burn wood chips, wood pellets or a combination of the two. Maine Forest Service Director Alec Giffen says the six projects are expected to displace 262,000 gallons of oil a year. He says about 85 percent of the money spent on oil in Maine goes out-of-state.

"And in the case of buying pellets that are made here in Maine or wood chips that are produced here in Maine, basically that money, rather than being exported out of the state, is going to recirculate in the state's economy," he says.

The Department of Conservation says another round of projects will be called for this spring.