Akron Thermal, which runs the plant that produces steam heat and air conditioning for 200 downtown Akron buildings, received $340,750 from the state to help cover the costs of new equipment to allow wood chips and tire-derived fuel pellets in a second boiler, according to an article in the January 23, 2003, issue of The (Akron) Beacon Journal. Last year Akron Thermal received $310,000 from DRLP to equip another boiler at the old Recycling Energy Systems plant. In each case, the company must provide at least equivalent matching funds. The Recycling Energy System plant stopped burning trash in 1995 to avoid the $30 million price tag for installing equipment to meet federal clean-air mandates.