POLAND— Poland, Minot and Mechanic Falls voters Tuesday approved installing a biomass boiler at Poland Regional High School and constructing an accessory building and related facilities. The vote was 1,699 to 735.

 Support for the conversion to a system that uses locally produced renewable fuels was consistent across the three towns. In Mechanic Falls the vote was 383-155; in Minot it was 426-198; and in Poland 860-382.

The total project cost is expected to be less than $686,000. Funding will come through a federal grant administered through the Maine Department of Conservation in the amount of $636,000 with the balance of costs coming from Regional School Unit 16’s capital improvements reserve account.

 School officials estimate that conversion to the biomass boiler could reduce the fuel budget by as much as $100,000 a year.