MICHIGAN CITY – Indiana Department of Correction officials have announced completion of energy improvements at seven correctional institutions, including the Indiana State Prison, that could save taxpayers $52 million over the next 10 years.

Commissioner Ed Buss said a 600 horsepower biomass boiler system was installed at the Indiana State Prison, that will be powered by burning scrap wood, like used pallets.

Kevin Orme, director of construction services for the DOC, said, “It's inexpensive, energy efficient and it saves millions of pounds of emissions from being released due to the burning of coal or natural gas.”

Should the supply of scrap wood not be able to be delivered, Orme said a backup system on the boiler allows it to burn natural gas.

By using wood, said Buss, the DOC will prevent more than 46 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere year year and conserve more than 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

Besides Indiana State Prison in Michigan City , other institutions receiving energy upgrades are in Pendleton, Plainfield , Westville, Putnamville, the women's prison and re-entry education facility in Indianapolis .