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USMC Commandant Breaks Ground for Renewable Energy Project

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080724-04
Release Date: 7/24/2008 5:47:00 AM

By Lee H. Saunders, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Gen. James T. Conway led the groundbreaking ceremony July 10 for the Marine Corps' first large scale wind turbine project at Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Barstow in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest Energy Team awarded the 1,500 kilowatt wind turbine project for the first large scale wind turbine ever procured for a Marine Corps installation. The large scale wind turbine project is one of many renewable energy projects NAVFAC Southwest in San Diego manages for the Department of Navy.

"I am proud to be involved in this landmark project to deliver this first wind generator to the Marine Corps helping make the mean green fighting machine become just a little bit greener," said Gary Simon, NAVFAC Southwest Renewable Energy project manager for the wind turbine project.

Southern California Edison is the primary contractor providing financing, design and construction services to install the wind turbine power generation system at the Nebo facility on MCLB Barstow. The total estimated value of the contract is $6.1 million and capitalizes on a $1.5 million rebate from California's current self generation incentive program making the net cost to the Marines $4.6 million.

ACCO Engineered Systems of Glendale, Calif., Brownco Construction of Anaheim, Calif., and AAER of Bromont, Quebec, Canada, are subcontractors for the project. ACCO Engineered Systems will perform the design work. Brownco Construction will build the foundation and 200-foot tower to place the wind generator. AAER will build the wind turbine generator and perform all maintenance for the first five years.

"This is a great project in a great site, a monument to the "Green Power" of the Marine Corps overlooking all of MCLB Barstow," said Simon.

The wind turbine will generate an average of more than 3,000 megawatt hours of renewable power each year for the base's consumption in lieu of brown power. The base will save approximately $515,000 annually, based on the current energy rate bill the base pays for brown power. Brown power is the electricity provided to the base by a local utility company from nonrenewable sources.

"The project pays for itself in approximately eight years and will continue to generate power for more than 20 years," said Simon.

The project is scheduled for completion in November 2008.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.