Posts Tagged ‘energy security’

The Army last week released a request for proposals to procure $7 billion worth of renewable energy from the private sector through power purchase agreements lasting up to 30 years. The multiple-award task order contract, issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, will be awarded to large and small businesses for four technologies — solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, according to the Corps’ announcement. The Army plans only to purchase the energy that is produced, with contractors responsible for financing, building, owning and operating the energy plants …

A new agreement signed by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will ease the process for the military services to develop renewable energy projects on installation land previously managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The memorandum of understanding covers public lands set aside for military use — called “withdrawn lands” — and other onshore and offshore areas near military installations. The goal of the partnership is to harness the significant proven solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy resources on or near installations across the country …

Advanced microgrids offer a cost-effective solution to military installations’ growing vulnerability to the fragile electric grid, according to a study released last month by DOD’s office of installations and environment. The study, performed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory, illustrates the largely untapped potential of moving to smarter, next generation microgrids that can accommodate much greater use of renewable energy sources and tighter integration with the electrical grid. A microgrid that can operate when tied to the grid would offer new opportunities for the military to generate cost savings …

If the military services are going to reach their goal of obtaining 1 gigawatt each of renewable energy by 2025, they will need to overcome a variety of challenges, starting with the private sector’s concerns about dealing with the federal bureaucracy, reports National Defense magazine. The government’s protracted contracting process is one hindrance, Terry Yonkers, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, said at a National Defense Industrial Association conference. “I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot. It is much too complex …

San Antonio-based Infinity Development Partners is creating a fund to invest in public-public partnerships to provide financing for communities interested in partnering with federal facilities, such as military installations. The fund, Sustainable Community Investments, initially will focus on economic development projects — including energy, infrastructure and commercial development — that bring together community organizations such as local governments, universities and economic development agencies with DOD and other federal complexes …

The Navy’s new energy policy makes energy security “a strategic imperative” for its installations, and codifies the service’s goals to dramatically reduce energy consumption while increasing its reliance on alternative sources. The “Shore Energy Management Instruction” announced Tuesday signifies a complete revision from the previous version published in 1994. The new policy calls for Navy installations to reduce their vulnerability to outages caused by natural disasters, accidents or attacks. Goals for shore installations include …

The Army is in talks with the Hawaii Electric Co. over the possibility of developing a 50-megawatt biofuels power plant at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The effort is being led by the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force, which the service created last year to pursue large-scale renewable energy projects. The Army would rely on the plant for backup power during an outage, with the utility distributing the rest of the energy generated by the plant. The Army and the utility anticipate reaching a partnership agreement in the fourth quarter of this year …

The Air Force has selected New Generation Biomass, a Chicago-based developer of renewable and biomass energy facilities, to construct a 20-megawatt biomass/waste-to-energy facility at Holloman AFB, N.M. The enhanced use leasing project will cover 80 acres and burn wood from forest thinning, landfills, orchard pruning, sawmill residue, used pallets and other sources to generate energy …

One theme that emerged Wednesday at the ADC Energy Partnerships Forum was the apparent conflict between DOD’s push to adopt renewable energy and its obligation to preserve taxpayers’ money. To date, unit costs for a range of alternative energy sources are higher than for competing carbon-based ones. So, if the department seeks to save dollars at the same time it is striving to attain a higher portion of its electricity from renewable sources, it is “fighting against itself …

The Army is interested in both small-scale and large-scale renewable energy projects at its installations, but a post’s senior commander, or garrison commander, most likely is focusing on larger projects. “The Army is looking for integrated projects that make sense across large parts of the base,” Craig College, the Army’s deputy assistant chief of staff for installation management, told attendees Tuesday at the Joint Army-Air Force Renewable Energy Industry Day …