NAVFAC Southeast Contract to Help Marines Save Energy, Money

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $5.2 million utility energy services contract (UESC) June 30, to TECO Peoples Gas Energy Systems Group, LLC for energy improvements to facilities at U.S. Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island.

The improvements will save the installation nearly $497,000 annually.

"We recognize that as residents of the Jacksonville community, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island has a responsibility to do our part to conserve energy," said Blount Island base commander Col. Steven Peters. "This project puts us on the path to meet the goals of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Campaign Plan, increases our use of renewable energy, and reduces energy to meet executive order goals."

Projects under the UESC will include high efficiency lighting retrofits; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements; controls upgrades, motor upgrades, transformer replacements, metering, compressed air system repairs, insulation, and solar hot-water and geothermal energy systems.

"We are always looking ahead to find ways to conserve energy," said NAVFAC Southeast energy program manager Brad Clark. "When the analysis was complete we found many buildings that could use upgrades to conserve energy."

Thirteen facilities and five non-facility areas will see some type of energy saving improvements.

Solar hot water panels are to be installed on Building 100 to augment its existing electric water heating system.

Solar powered (photovoltaic) systems include solar powered water circulators in two retention ponds to maintain proper oxygen levels. Solar powered car charging systems will be installed at Buildings 350, 351, 390 and 450 to relieve 44 electric vehicles from the utility system.

Geothermal energy systems work will include replacing building 450 cooling equipment with a water-cooled chiller and water-source heat pump. Ground-source heat pumps and new air handling units will replace existing heating and cooling equipment in Building 150.

"The Department of Defense (DoD) has imposed strict guidance to reduce consumption," claims Clark.

The DoD has mandated that electric and natural gas consumption be reduced at least 30 percent by 2015. In addition, executive order (EO) 13514 was signed in 2009 by the President which intensifies the energy savings requirements even more.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps has provided a campaign plan called, "Ten by '10 -- Top ten things to do by 2010 to reduce USMC Energy Risks."

Construction on the UESC Phase II projects for Blount Island will begin in August and is expected to be completed during the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, approximately June 2012.

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Energy and Environmental Projects Highlighted to Assistant Secretary of the Navy

By Andrew Revelos, Naval Support Activity South Potomac Public Affairs

INDIAN HEAD, Md. (NNS) -- Major projects in support of critical infrastructure and environmental protection at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head were discussed in-depth during a June 27 visit to the installation by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment.

The tour for Jackalyne Pfannenstiel began with a briefing from Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP) and Naval District Washington (NDW) officials on the progress of NSF Indian Head's planned "nodal" steam generation plants, the proposed Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) aboard base property, upgrades to the installation's sewage treatment facility and the shoreline stabilization project.

A military construction project 222, currently slated for funding in FY12, will replace NSF Indian Head's aged coal-burning Goddard Steam Plant, in operation since 1957, with a more efficient "nodal" system consisting of two primary and nine secondary steam plants. The Goddard plant currently supplies the installation's steam and provides back-up power generation for commands aboard Indian Head.

The new, natural gas-powered system's design will offer an estimated 35 percent reduction in the installation's yearly energy costs. Abandoning coal-generated energy will avoid the increasing costs of keeping up with environmental regulations, which mandate expensive steam-scrubbing operations.

In addition to reducing greenhouse gas and other pollution, the project will fund construction of an eight-mile long natural gas line to the base, and see the removal of approximately 14 miles of old steam lines on the Navy installation.

"One distinction we have here at Indian Head that we'd like to lose, is [having] the last coal-fired power plant in the Navy," said Capt. Rame Hemstreet, commanding officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington.

"We really can't have any interruptions in service," said Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) commander, Capt. Andy Buduo. The de-centralized nodal system will mitigate power reliability problems currently experienced by NSWC IHD as its works to accomplish its vital mission.

"Clearly, you have unique needs in terms of [power] reliability," said Pfannenstiel while addressing the group.

Officials also updated the assistant secretary on the EUL, which provides an opportunity for a more efficient use of Navy-owned property through cooperation with the private sector. The proposal could also benefit the community surrounding NSF Indian Head by adding jobs to the region.

Two lease sites have been proposed on NSF Indian Head, one for power generation and the other for commercial or light industrial use. The Navy requested proposals in April and is currently in a review period.

The upgrade to NSF Indian Head's Sewage Treatment Plant, scheduled to be completed this fall, was necessitated by stringent new state and federal environmental regulations intended to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The rules require Maryland jurisdictions and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous pollutants, and strengthen measures to control pollution in storm water run-off.

Meeting the tough new requirements has been a "big hurdle," according to one NSASP official, but NSF Indian Head is on schedule to meet the December 2011 compliance deadline.

NSF Indian Head's shoreline stabilization continues its successful status as a major environmental step forward for the Chesapeake Bay area. First conceived in 2002 in response to severe shoreline erosion, the project involves the construction of breakwaters, sills and an intertidal wetland environment designed to protect seven miles of the base's shoreline along the Potomac River and Mattawoman Creek. The initiative, undertaken by Navy in partnership with several conservation agencies, features a "living shoreline" design now serves as a model for restoration projects across the Bay region.

Following her briefing, Pfannenstiel toured all the project sites, with the shoreline restoration serving as the grand finale.

"Being good stewards of the environment continues to be a priority of the Department of the Navy," said Pfannenstiel. "Indian Head's Shoreline Stabilization project is a prime example of how we are protecting and restoring the environment in conjunction with other federal departments, state agencies, and private sector organizations. The incredible success of this project can serve as a model for similar projects throughout the Navy."

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Solar Power System Expected to Bring Significant Savings to Naval Shipyard

From Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) completed installation of a $1.7 million photovoltaic (PV) system, June 1.

The new system is anticipated to reduce the facility's electric bill by $89,000 per year.

Nearly 1,300 solar panels were installed on the rooftop of Building 167, generating at least 250 kilowatts of power during peak daylight hours, or more than 455,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually.

"Hawaii depends on petroleum for nearly 90 percent of its energy requirements," said Shipyard Commander Capt. Brian Osgood. "This photovoltaic system uses the power of the sun as a long-term source of environmentally clean, renewable energy. It's another step toward making the shipyard and the Navy less dependent on oil."

PHNSY & IMF Other Procurement, Navy, Program/Project Manager Tiffany Nekota said the PV system has a life of more than 25 years and will maintain a minimum of 80 percent of its peak output even at the end of the system's lifespan.

Nekota said the new system is "grid-tied," meaning power generated by the system feeds into the building's existing electrical system. A weather station, DC-to-AC power conversion, monitoring, safety, interlock and shut-off capabilities are all part of the system.

About 20,000 square feet of rooftop are covered with solar panels, but pedestrians at ground level will barely notice the change.

"One of the considerations in the design was to preserve the historical nature of the building," Nekota said.

PHNSY & IMF Energy Conservation Manager Fred Nelson said the PV project helps the shipyard support secretary of the Navy's goal to have at least half of shore-based energy come from alternate sources; and helps meet federal regulations requiring agencies to reduce per-square-foot energy consumption in buildings by 3 percent per year.

PHNSY & IMF, one of four naval shipyards, is a full-service naval shipyard and regional maintenance center for the Navy's surface ships and submarines. It is a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command that engineers, builds, buys and maintains naval ships, submarines and their combat systems. Strategically located in the mid-Pacific, PHNSY & IMF is about a week of steam time closer to potential major regional contingencies in East Asia than sites on the West Coast.

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Navy Energy Program Goes Blue to Green

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen D. Doyle II, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Members of the California Energy Commission toured shore facilities in Navy Region Southwest, June 27, in an effort to strengthen commitments and ties with the Navy regarding renewable, green energies.

The group toured facilities onboard Naval Base Coronado, and Naval Amphibious base Coronado. Energy efficient commodities such as solar powered street lamps and training classrooms that use green energy were a few of the main draws.

"Today was an opportunity to have some people from the California energy commission come and visit the Navy and discuss energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities in the state of California and an opportunity to show up close the Navy's projects and installations," said Bernie Lindsey, Navy Region Southwest utilities & energy program manager.

Of interest to the group were the Navy's photovoltaic systems that convert heat from the sun into electricity, solar panels located on top of streetlights and long-term parking.

"We wanted to see the Navy's energy facilities and its commitment to renewable and energy efficiency and look for ways we can work together on that," said Dr. Robert Weisenmiller, California Energy Commission chair. "What was most impressive was the Navy's dedication on trying to get the energy use down and the renewable energy production up."

The Navy and the state of California have been working together for many years to help develop and implement green technologies throughout its shore facilities within the state.

"Some of the stuff we've seen so far resulted form the partnership we have," said Weisenmiller. "We do a lot of research and development and we need someplace to test those products and this is a good opportunity down here."

As the Navy continues to implement renewable energy in its existing facilities, it is also looking into the future as new projects begin construction.

"Their (California Energy Commission's) interest across the state is improving energy efficiency in existing buildings and helping insure that new buildings that get constructed are the most energy efficient possible," said Lindsey. "They are also very interested and involved in renewable energy development across the state of California. And so all of those issues and objectives that they have are very compatible with the Navy's requirements, goals and objective."

Both the state of California and the Navy have been very dedicated to integrating renewable energy systems wherever it is possible. Many existing programs and utilities were developed in California.

"Our goals and objectives are very similar, one of their (California Energy Commission's) objectives is to facilitate and promote California companies that make technologies to improve energy efficiency," said Lindsey. "One of their main goals is to help get California technologies more prominently to the market, so they see the Navy as obviously a large, potential customer that needs a lot of energy efficient technologies.".

Because of their similar interest in renewable energy technologies, the partnership between the Navy and the state of California is one that will continue to grow stronger as both parties strive to alleviate dependency on less efficient energy sources.

"I think the major thing is that we both have the same goals to get much more secure energy system by using energy wisely and also using green energy," said Weisenmiller. "They're greening the Navy, I'm trying to green the state."

The Navy is partnering with state agencies around the country to reduce its energy usage and increase its renewable and green energy production, both at sea and at shore-based facilities.

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SECNAV Stresses Alternative Energy at Current Strategy Forum

From Naval War College Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spoke on the importance of pursuing alternative energy during a keynote speech at the U.S. Naval War College's 62nd annual Current Strategy Forum (CSF) in Newport, R.I., June 8.

Mabus discussed how the Navy and Marine Corps have made strides towards seeking alternative energy sources, but must continue to push ahead to be less reliant on fossil fuels. This challenge, he said, is a strategic issue that is important to U.S. national security.

"We use too much fossil fuel," he said. "We have to change the way we use, produce, get energy. We have to do it strategically, we have to do it tactically."

Every dollar rise in the price of a barrel of oil costs the Navy and Marine Corps $31 million, he said, noting that oil-price increases in fiscal year 2011 will result in a $562 million addition to the operating budget of both services - more than the cost of a littoral combat ship.

"We don't have that money to spare. We certainly don't have it to spare in this fiscal environment," he said.

The reliance on fossil fuels affects the Navy and Marine Corps at the tactical level as well. He used the complex process to transport fuel to Afghanistan as a costly example, from monetary costs to manpower resources, to lives lost in attacks while providing security.

To combat this issue, the secretary issued five energy goals, one of which is to ensure at least half of all energy used by the Navy and Marine Corps will come from non-fossil fuels no later than 2020. This type of challenge, he said, is not new to services that transitioned from sails to coal-fired steam in the 19th century, switched to oil 50 years later, and then added nuclear power to the fleet in the 1950s.

"I think we're right on the edge of another energy revolution," Mabus said, pointing out how quickly such change happens. He compared the potential for energy developments with the recent emergence of iPads, smart phones and other devices transforming the way we communicate.

"We have the opportunity to help create the new energy future and the new energy economy for this country," said Mabus.

In the energy arena, progress has been made, including completion of solar-power projects, energy-efficient buildings, and smart meters across the Department of the Navy.

Mabus described how private industry will play a key role in future developments in partnership with the Department of the Navy. Specific parameters, such as ensuring that energy alternatives are compatible with already existing platforms and equipment, and that any developments do not compete with food production, will need to be considered.

"Because while the military can lead, it's going to have to be industry that expands the market," he said.

Attended by the Naval War College community and participants from throughout the country, this year's two-day Current Strategy Forum explored the theme of "Energy and the U.S. National Security: Vulnerability and Opportunity."

The event featured speakers from military, academia and industry, discussing the critical role of energy in international security, the current and future impact of increasing global demands on natural resources, and the related vulnerabilities and opportunities for the nation and the maritime services in a more energy constrained environment.

The Current Strategy Forum is hosted annually by the Secretary of the Navy.

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Navy Signs Agreement to Increase Energy-Related Development

From NSWC Carderock Division - Ship Systems Engineering Station Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- The Navy signed a five-year agreement with three Philadelphia region organizations to establish programs supporting collaboration with small businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit entities to increase energy-related development, May 23.

The ceremony was held at the Philadelphia Navy Yard's Innovation Center.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division – Ship Systems Engineering Station (NSWCCD-SSES), a Naval Sea Systems Command field activity, entered into the partnership intermediary agreement with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Corporation (DVIRC), and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC).

"This agreement builds on our partnerships with Ben Franklin, DVIRC and PIDC to leverage our combined strengths and capabilities to develop and advance new technologies," said Capt. Alexander Desroches, NSWCCD-SSES commanding officer.

In fiscal year 2010, NSWCCD-SSES awarded $293 million in contracts to small businesses in the Philadelphia region. Of that, approximately $71 million was awarded to small disadvantaged businesses, $29.8 million to women-owned small businesses, and $4.1 million to service disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The newly signed intermediary agreement increases the level of commitment by NSWCCD-SSES and the partners to the small business community.

"We look forward to working with our partners to continue developing the Philadelphia Navy Yard as an engineering center of excellence, and a hub for clean energy related development," said Desroches.

The agreement creates an environment supporting the growth of manufacturing and technical companies by establishing a regional licensing process for new technologies emerging from the efforts of the partners. Additionally, it leverages regional educational resources and national education programs to support startup and existing businesses' future work force needs in the areas of manufacturing and technology.

The warfare centers are the Navy's principal research, development, test and evaluation assessment activity for surface ship and submarine systems and subsystems. In addition, warfare centers provide depot maintenance and in-service engineering support to ensure the systems fielded today, perform consistently and reliably in the future.

NSWCCD-SSES Philadelphia provides the Navy's primary technical expertise and facilities for naval machinery research, development and life cycle engineering.

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NAVFAC Washington Completes Energy Saving ARRA Project

By James Johnson, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington successfully completed a $3.6 million, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded, HVAC restoration project at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head, Md., May 6.

Primary Contractor Grunley/Gooel LLC was awarded the contract to replace the existing HVAC system in Bldg. 900 at NSF Indian Head on Sept. 29, 2009. Work included installing two roof-top units, replacing all duct work and controls and replacing old ceilings and lights.

"This equipment will save on the building's current energy usage," says Bill Rees, NAVFAC Washington construction manager. He also notes that "a spirit of cooperation" between NAVFAC Washington, the contractor, and Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC), which occupies the building, helped ensure the project was completed on time and on budget. Work was also completed with no lost-time accidents.

JITC is scheduled to move back into their workspaces by Aug. 1, 2011.

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Marines Prove Energy Efficiencies in Afghanistan

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2011 – There’s a peculiar sight on Forward Operating Base Jackson in the Sangin district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province. The base is one of several in southern Afghanistan where the Marine Corps has set up solar panels and uses solar blankets as sources of renewable energy.

Col. Robert “Brutus” Charette Jr., director of expeditionary energy for the Marine Corps, is working to ensure that deploying such sources of renewable energy become standard procedure. But he admits it hasn’t come easy.

When 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, received orders last year to deploy to Afghanistan, experiments in environmentalism did not come to mind.

“When we told them they’d be taking renewables to the battlefield, they were not amused,” Charette told an audience at an energy, environment, defense and security conference here yesterday.

That was before they trained in renewable energy at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. -- before they’d proven the Corps’ new position that resource efficiency equals combat effectiveness.

At first, the Marines grudgingly accepted the solar panels and other renewable energy sources, saying they could go on “a slow boat to Afghanistan,” Charette said. After they trained with the equipment and experienced the efficiency of lighter packs and less reliance on resupplies, they said to put all of it on the planes, he said.

“That’s when I knew we had something,” he added.

Today, at least two forward operating bases in Afghanistan are powered entirely by solar energy, and several others get at least 90 percent of their energy from the sun. Marine Corps leaders are so pleased with the outcome that they’ve written renewable energy into training plans and doctrine -- something Charette said he hopes will become joint practice with other services.

“Today on the battlefield, we treat energy and water like it’s air, like it will always be there,” Charette said. “Logistics guys do such a tremendous job supplying warfighters that we don’t pay attention.”

The colonel added there still “are a lot of gaps to fill” to create an environment where the services have a steady supply of renewable resources from industry, and a system in place for fielding, training and using them.

“We need a methodical approach to doing it,” he said.

The results on the battlefield, though, are good enough to be an incentive. Six solar panels at Forward Operating Base Jackson can keep at least 17 computers and 15 lighting units running throughout the night. A Marine company on a three-day foot patrol uses solar blankets in place of radio batteries, savings hundreds of pounds from packs and thousands of dollars, Charette said.

When Marines in Helmand were given a solar refrigerator that kept water at 40 degrees on a 130-degree day, he said, the unit ordered 10 of them.

As an enduring example of the Marines’ energy initiatives in Helmand, they have shared their findings -- and equipment -- with local Afghans. “Without energy, they’re never going to be able to stand on their own,” Charette noted.

While Helmand residents “showed no interest in biofuels,” he said, they like the solar panels and blankets, which are providing much-needed energy.

By 2025, the Marine Corps plans to cut in half the amount of energy each Marine consumes on the battlefield. By writing alternative energy uses into service policies and procedures, Charette said, “it ensures we truly do change the way we do business.”

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Troops Explore Emerging Energy Solutions

By Claire Heininger

Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications – Tactical

ORLANDO, Fla., May 2, 2011 – As the military works to shrink its operational energy footprint, experts in solar power, microgrids and “smart” generators recently took that technology to a crucial jury: the troops.

Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who deal hands-on with battlefield power converged here April 12-15 for the fourth annual Power User Conference held by the Defense Department’s mobile electric power project manager’s office, participating in small-group discussions, attending demonstrations and providing feedback on current and next-generation equipment.

“This is a way to get very deep inside the combat [experience] and understand the issues and concerns that soldiers are going through, because this is of paramount importance for us,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Leonardo Bereton, who oversaw power equipment as part of his duties when deployed to Iraq in 2008 and 2009. “This equipment [was] running through sandstorms and rain and cold and hot weather. … They are so valuable to our fight.”

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Joe Leija said he connected with experts “for every type of gear” with whom he previously had worked via email from Afghanistan.

“But now, putting a name with a face and being able to ask those hard questions, I think it will help out the Marine Corps,” he said.

Among Leija’s recommendations: minor changes to the Solar Stik, a hybrid energy system consisting of a lightweight tripod with a pair of 50-watt rigid-panel solar arrays, batteries and a military generator. Overall, he said, the system could be a valuable alternative to traditional energy sources for powering items with small loads, such as computers and batteries.

“I think it has potential,” he said. “Environment is going to determine whether it’s usable.”

Harnessing the potential of alternative energies so they meet the demands of a military environment is a major focus for the mobile electric power project manager’s office, which supplies tactical electric power solutions, training and support to the services. The organization also is developing a microgrid to be deployed in Afghanistan later this year composed of four larger generator sets and supporting power distribution equipment. It would intelligently manage the power supply to meet demand, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

“There’s more interest in operational energy than at any time in the last 40 years or so,” project manager Michael Padden told the more than 270 conference attendees. “What can we do to improve efficiencies on the battlefield? What other equipment can we get out there? How can we take tankers off the battlefields and reduce casualties? The answers are in this room.”

The office’s standardized military generators also are evolving. The next generation, known as the Advanced Medium Mobile Power Sources, or AMMPS, family, is 21 percent more fuel-efficient than current systems while reducing size and weight. While AMMPS fielding is expected to begin later this year, several models were on display at the conference for warfighters to explore.

“I’m impressed with the AMMPS from what I’ve seen so far,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Vince DiLoreto, who used the current Tactical Quiet Generator models while deployed. DiLoreto said the standardization between AMMPS units of different sizes would simplify maintenance, and the extra cooling fans would reduce a condition that impairs diesel engines.

As an “old-school guy,” DiLoreto said, his only concern with the transition is that the newer generators use digital control screens in place of dials. But he acknowledged that a younger generation of warfighters might prefer that.

“It will probably be easier for them to use a computer than it would be a dial,” he said.

Other systems on display included a variety of other small and large power sources, including the Deployable Power Generation and Distribution System, a 30,000-pound trailer-mounted system supplying 840 kilowatts of power to forward operating bases and to natural disaster sites in the United States.

“We respond to floods, ice storms and hurricanes,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Norris of the 249th Engineer Battalion, which relies on the system. “We have generators stationed across the country.”

Nearby, a new 60,000-British-thermal-units-per-hour Improved Environmental Control Unit rapidly cooled the interior of a tent, demonstrating its capability to protect key tactical communications equipment from harsh desert temperatures. The Marine Corps also demonstrated a Humvee with an in-line generator coupled to the transmission that provides 30 kilowatts of exportable power when stationary and 10 kilowatts when on the move.

The demonstrations anchored the conference, which also included presentation of the “Power Professional Awards” to recognize outstanding achievements across the Defense Department. The winners were Marine Corps Sgt. Victoria Wellman, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Duvall, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Silvia Stephens, Air Force Staff Sgt. Marcial Grinolds, Army Staff Sgt. Michael Kelly and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brandon McCoy.

Grinolds won for saving the Defense Department $75,000 in vendor courses by developing a training curriculum for power generation specialists. He said standardized training ensures troops will have “the same level of expertise” to provide continuous support for equipment on the front lines.

“You never know about the power guy,” Grinolds said, “until the power goes out.”

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Lynn: Defense-Energy Team Leads National Effort

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2011 – A partnership the Defense and Energy departments formed last year to conserve energy in the military is the perfect union to lead the nation in conservation, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said at the White House Energy Security Forum today.

“The key to this partnership is focusing [the Energy Department’s] unique knowledge on meeting defense requirements,” Lynn said. “By taking technologies from labs to the battlefield, the Department of Energy can enroll its scientific ingenuity in the service of our nation’s most important national mission: national security.”

Additionally, Lynn said, the departments’ collaboration can improve the operational effectiveness of the armed forces and serve as a catalyst for the civilian world. “By serving as a sophisticated first user and early customer for innovative energy technology,” he said, “the military can jump-start their broader commercial adoption, just as we have done with jet engines, high-performance computing and the Internet.”

Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel B. Poneman agreed.

“Through our national laboratory system, the [Energy] department brings tremendous scientific expertise to bear across a whole portfolio of national energy and scientific priorities,” he said. “Coupled with the scale of the Defense Department’s operations and its potential to act as a test bed for innovative technologies, this partnership is a crucial vehicle to strengthen our national security and to build a clean energy economy for America.”

Forum speakers noted the importance President Barack Obama has placed on energy conservation, but added that the issue goes back at least as far as the administration of President Richard M. Nixon, who acknowledged that American reliance on foreign oil raises national security risks. NATO’s ongoing military operations in Libya and the spike of oil prices due to political unrest in the Middle East is just the latest example of the problem, Poneman said.

Under the departments’ agreement, a committee of Defense and Energy leaders will steer investments into conservation-related technologies for U.S.-based installations and battlefield operations, Lynn said. Dorothy Robyn, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, and Sharon E. Burke, assistant secretary of defense for operational energy plans and programs, are leading those efforts and took part in the forum.

The Defense Department is a world leader in energy consumption, Lynn said, noting that it accounts for 80 percent of U.S. federal energy use and consumes more energy than is used by two-thirds of all the nations on Earth. With annual energy bills reaching into the tens of billions of dollars, conservation could produce significant savings, he said.

“Everything we do, every mission we perform requires significant amounts of energy,” Lynn said.

Energy dependence has grown in the military, burdening budgets, logistics and individual service members. More than 70 percent of convoys in Afghanistan are used to transport fuel or water and are easy targets for insurgents’ roadside bombs, Lynn said. More than 3,000 U.S. troops and contractors have been killed or wounded protecting them, he said.

Ground forces’ increased use of electronics has doubled their use of batteries in recent years, Lynn said, so that today’s soldiers typically carry 18 pounds of batteries on a 72-hour foot patrol in Afghanistan.

But although the Defense Department consumes much energy, it also is a leader in conservation, Lynn said, as noted last year by the Pew Charitable Trusts think tank.

The department is building energy performance parameters into weapons systems requirements, including the cost of fuel for operations, Lynn said. Within the services, he added, the Navy is leading the way with more efficient propulsion technologies, including hybrid drives, and alternative energies that use biofuels.

The Marine Corps last fall deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand province with flexible solar panels developed at the Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass., which allowed the Marines to run two patrol bases completely on solar power and cut diesel fuel consumption at a third base by more than 90 percent, Lynn said.

“New energy technology makes our warfighters more agile, allowing them to focus on the mission rather than their logistics chain,” he said.

At Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base, Calif., Marines are demonstrating new microgrid technology, a system of self-generated electricity and intelligent controls that can be operated independently of the commercial power grid that military bases rely on, Lynn said.

Under its partnership with the Energy Department, DOD can continue with such innovations and do more, Lynn and Poneman said. Under the agreement, DOE will fund innovative projects, and provide advisors to combatant commands to share information and training, Poneman said.

Already, DOE auditors have found $15 million in savings through energy conservation at some of DOD’s 307,000 buildings, he added.

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Energy Actions Speak Louder Than Words, or Blame

By Gregory Parker

If there is one thing that is certain it is that we have come to not only expect but we require the existence of a “Boogey-Man.” On April 20, 2011 President Obama speaking to community college students and others in Virginia delivered on expectations and informed us that the villain behind our current energy woes was the boogey-man known as the dreaded “SPECULATOR.” He (they collectively) were responsible for driving gasoline prices higher. So what is a speculator you ask? A speculator is one that takes large and unusual business risk to gain financially from anticipating future price movements.

As a professor of government and understanding public policy and the economy as I do, I know that federal reserve policy, foreign affairs and speculation do play a part but can we definitively link the current spike in the price of a gallon of gas only to speculators or is this yet another example of baiting and switching the American public. Speculators operate their business based on anticipating what will influence the price, they have no real control over world events. Speculators didn’t fire up their weather machines to create storms nor are they responsible for the tensions in the Middle East and most importantly speculators don’t possess the bully pulpit.

President Obama has only himself to blame for creating an atmosphere of anti energy (oil, gas and coal specifically), which in turn leads speculators to see future risks. We all remember the famous declaration by candidate Obama when he declared that he was going to “Fundamentally change America” and the statements made during the campaign that in order for his green agenda to be realized “the price of energy would necessarily have to skyrocket.” Some of his rhetoric could be attributed to bloviated campaign exuberance but as we have witnessed this is less about rhetoric and more about action. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was quoted as saying “Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.” This statement was made in September of 2008 and if you were an oil speculator what would you be thinking?

In order to make a real case when it comes to responsibility we need more than just words, we need examples of action as well. According to the Institute for Energy Research some, but not all, of the clearest examples of action to stop energy production are as follows: The administration withdrew 77 oil and gas leases in Utah, this could represent a loss to American taxpayers of millions in lost production royalties and more importantly new jobs. The administration delayed oil shale research that would help advance American technology and create high-tech jobs. The administration supported cap-and-trade legislation that could cost American families more than $3,100 a year in higher energy cost. The administration ordered the cancellation of the Navajo Nation power plant that prevented the Navajo nation from creating new jobs and reducing its 42% percent unemployment rate. The administration revoked an already issued permit to a West Virginia coalmine operation that cost 250 American jobs. These are just a few of the examples.

Speaking of American jobs; President Obama visited Brazil and issued a promise to be a great trading partner and vowed to assist their county in creating jobs all the while killing an estimated 13,000 jobs in the gulf region and 19,000 nationally by imposing a moratorium on drilling in US water. Yes lets be clear the moratorium on shallow and deep water drilling was lifted by a federal court, yet the administration’s slow permitting has effectively continued the moratorium on offshore deep water drilling, placing the entire Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf and parts of Alaska essentially off limits to energy production. All the while a CNN polls shows the US public supports offshore drilling by 69% and the support for global warming is in free fall.

So now we can revisit the “Speculators” and their role in the spike of oil, the path America finds herself on in relation to its energy future. Is it the guys whose job it is to guess where the price of oil will be in the future or is it the guy who set our country’s energy policy or dare I say anti oil, gas and coal policy? The guy who can suspend oil exploration with the flick of a pen? The guy who sends his minions out to tell Americans we need to see prices at the pump that resemble those in Europe? The guy who has stated that in order for his green agenda to be realized energy prices would have to skyrocket? I guess in the end I don’t have to ask, it’s abundantly clear.

In the end this issue isn’t all that different from any other facing this nation, there are two competing sides and in politics as it is in life there always has to be a winner and a loser, a right side and a wrong side and the challenge is as it has always been, informing yourself and choosing correctly. The Congressional Research Service as stated that the USA has by far more energy resources in reserve than any other country in the world. In fact we are the only country in the world that seriously restricts access to such resources. It is my humble opinion that the real goal should be to balance and blend the responsible utilization of this nation’s energy resources while maintaining a strong vibrant economy. This means doing things that create jobs and opportunities for Americans first. The fact is any comprehensive energy plan must utilize all of the tools in Americas energy toolbox, wind, solar, nuclear, domestic oil, natural gas, and yes, even clean COAL.

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Gregory Parker, Ph.D.(ABD), MPA is County Commissioner in Texas, an adjunct professor at Concordia University and the author of the book “Global Warming…Really?” which was chosen “book of the week” by the Conservative Monitor. He is a member of the International Association for Energy Economics, the United States Association for Energy Economics, the American Society for Public Administration, Section on Environmental and Natural Resource Administration and the Texas Oil & Gas Association.

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Energy Strategy Promotes Culture of Conservation

By Commander, Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Commander, Navy Region Southeast, announced the release of the region's 2011-2013 Energy Strategy in a podcast video, April 21.

The Energy Strategy is part of an ongoing effort to change behaviors from a culture of consumption to a culture of conservation. Aggressive conservation efforts aboard Region Southeast installations will enable the region to meet the secretary of the Navy's goal of three percent energy usage reduction per year, and a 30 percent reduction by 2015, relative to 2003.

The video message is available at www.cnic.navy.mil/cnrse and www.facebook.com/navyregionse.

Also available online are the Energy Strategy brochure and a quick reference card that Sailors, civilian employees, retirees, and family members can download. The brochure outlines the region's energy goals and the quick reference card provides specific recommendations on how everyone can help reduce energy consumption.

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GSA Investing in Salt Lake City’s New Energy Future

New FBI Field Office to Be High-Performing Green Building; Expected to Create 500 Jobs

SALT LAKE CITY, UT—Tomorrow, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will break ground on the new Federal Bureau of Investigation field office building located at 5425 West Amelia Earhart Drive, Salt Lake City. Through projects just like this, GSA continues to invest in clean energy and create new jobs.

“GSA is leading the way on the use of innovative technology in buildings to cut energy usage, save money, and boost a new American energy industry," said Susan Damour, GSA's Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator. "Commercial real estate accounts for nearly 20 percent of U.S. energy use, making the sector one of the biggest opportunities for GSA to curb greenhouse gas emissions and build a 21st century, clean-energy economy.”

This project expects to use building materials that contain at least 30 percent recycled content. The building materials will also be comprised of matter that has been extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. Furthermore, it is expected to save or create more than 500 construction jobs, a great majority of which will be filled by the local community.

M.L. Harris & Company of Oklahoma City and KDC Development, a Dallas-based commercial real estate and investment firm, are joint venture development partners of this design-build project; they will share responsibilities for construction and management throughout the process. The architect is Rees Associates of Oklahoma City and the general contractor is VCC Construction of Atlanta. M.L. Harris and KDC Development are the owners and developers of the facility, and GSA—on behalf of the FBI—will lease space under a 20-year firm term.

“This is a significant occasion for the citizens of Utah, Montana, and Idaho, as well as the employees of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office," said James McTighe, special agent in charge. "The completion of this state-of-the-art, stand-alone facility will enhance the FBI’s ability to protect Americans from national security and criminal threats by increasing our efficiency and capacity to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners. We are thankful to the GSA, M.L. Harris, and KDC Development for their work on this project and we look forward to its completion.”

The new building design is expected to achieve LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving overall performance. The building will be four stories tall, containing approximately 160,000 square feet. It will require more than 4,000,000 pounds of steel and 7,000 yards of concrete. The facility will showcase an ornamental staircase capped by a pyramid-shaped skylight, providing natural light deep into the interior of the building.

“Our goal is to create an environment that workers will appreciate and enjoy and look forward to being there. As a result, we hope to improve worker satisfaction and productivity. The facility will become a valuable asset for the FBI and greatly assist the FBI in meeting its mission,” said Mark Harris, principal and owner of M.L. Harris. This is M.L. Harris' sixth project for the FBI.

The FBI and GSA developed a 10-year acquisition program aimed at replacing or modernizing 39 FBI field offices and four major resident agency facilities across the country. The bulk of these projects are being accomplished through build-to-suit lease construction, including this project. The building will be located at 5425 West Amelia Earhart Drive and has a budget of $75 million dollars in construction and construction management fees. The project is expected to be complete late summer of 2012.

As the federal government's workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions include:

Effective management of government assets, including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 215,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;

Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services, making up approximately 14 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;

Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and

Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of government-wide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.

GSA Contact:

Sally Mayberry

303-236-2583/303-941-7637

sally.mayberry@gsa.gov

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NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic holds Energy Industry Day

By Tom Kreidel, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic held their first Industry Energy Day April 15.

More than 100 local contractors attended the event to discuss the command's vision for the Mid-Atlantic Region's energy program as well as tentatively planned energy projects scheduled for execution in FY-2011 and beyond.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Executive Officer, Capt. John Heckmann discussed four major areas: energy use reduction, renewable forms of energy, metering and benchmarking, and sustainable facilities.

"I think gatherings like these are important," said Heckmann. "It gives us a forum to lay out our goals and challenges. For our contracting partners, it's a great way to assess how they can possibly be part of the way forward."

Heckmann reminded the attendees the Navy is focused first on reducing energy consumption. At shore installations this means much attention on facilities and utility infrastructure. Energy conservation technology is becoming more into the mainstream of the project development and design process.

All new construction contracted by NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic will be Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design (LEED) Silver certified, designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources.

Heckmann said the Navy is looking at metering and benchmarking energy use with "smart meters" to better identify exactly when and where facilities are using the most energy, as a method to find ways to use less. With this added fidelity of consumption use, building occupants can more readily see how their operations affect energy costs.

The group was also briefed on the different types of contracts the Navy uses for energy projects, the different types of proposals used for these projects, along with discussing some projects that are in the works and others that are being looked at in the future.

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NASA Releases Scorecard on Energy and Sustainability Goals

Merrilee Fellows

Headquarters, Washington                                

WASHINGTON -- NASA has released its fiscal year 2010 scorecard on sustainability and energy performance. The agency exceeded the 5 percent target on renewable energy use for federal agencies last year.

The scorecard measures federal agency progress in a number of areas related to energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and waste reduction. This is the first year federal agencies have published their scorecards.

President Obama in 2009 directed federal agencies to lead by example in energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and meet a range of related goals. Out of seven benchmarks, NASA received five green ratings and two yellow. A green rating indicates the benchmark has been met. Yellow indicates that progress is being made.

"During the last 15 years, NASA has moved consistently toward sustainable and efficient operations at each of its field centers," said Olga Dominguez, NASA's assistant administrator for the Office of Strategic Infrastructure. "Sustainability reduces risk to NASA's mission and frees up resources. This scorecard is an important tool that will help NASA in meeting our sustainability goals."

In fiscal year 2011, NASA will exceed one million square feet of sustainable facilities through new construction and building rehabilitation. Using this scorecard as a benchmark, NASA will identify, monitor, and assess its efforts to reduce pollution, improve efficiency, and cut costs. The agency will update its Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan by June 2011 and post the plan on its website.

To view NASA's sustainability scorecard and 2010 sustainability plan, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sustainability.

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