Get to know F&S: Jerry Newton

Working at the Central Steam Plant is unlike anything Plant Engineer Jerry Newton has ever done before.

A childhood fondness for cars ignited Jerry Newton’s interest in engineering at a young age. 

After studying chemical engineering in India, Newton set out to see the world, working with oil and gas companies all over North America and the Middle East.  

Joining the University of Toronto in 2018 was a change of pace for Newton. Operating the Central Steam Plant—which provides heat and hot water to over 90 campus buildings and generates about 20% of the campus’s electricity needs—demands an extensive breadth of knowledge. “You could join at 20 and retire at 65, and that still wouldn’t be enough time to learn everything there is to learn,” says Newton. 

“The systems can be intricate and vast, necessitating operational proficiency across various equipment and systems, such as high-pressure steam boilers, refrigeration compressors, water treatment systems, PLC/SCADA automation systems, and compressed air systems, among others,” Raymond Monteiro, director of utilities and building operations, explains. 

Newton begins his day by reviewing the previous shift’s events, which give him an idea of what to expect. In addition to general monitoring and maintenance of the plant, he performs chemical tests to ensure that the water and steam are free of contaminants and that the pressure is high enough to provide heat to buildings.  

Boiler operations and responding to outages require quick thinking and high alertness, but Newton is always prepared. “It was intimidating when I started, but you get used to it,” he says.  

Newton is willing to tackle any challenge necessary, including venturing into the underground tunnels that connect the steam plant to campus buildings—with lines extending all the way up to the Royal Ontario Museum. “It’s dark down there, and not the most comfortable place to be,” he admits.  

Working at U of T empowers Newton to stay engaged with cutting-edge research, recognizing his crucial contribution to facilitating advancements and discoveries through the essential utilities he provides. “It makes me proud to work here,” he says.   

The steam plant must undergo a wide array of upgrades to meet the University’s commitment to achieving climate positivity by 2050. Newton is eager to implement and learn from these changes, which include a decreased reliance on natural gas. 

Outside of work, Newton enjoys playing cricket and reading—but he enjoys a good night’s sleep after a long shift most of all.