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Yokosuka Opens Energy-Efficient, Environmentally Friendly Power Plant

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081202-06
Release Date: 12/2/2008 11:00:00 AM

By Mark Elrod, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) officially opened its new, energy-efficient co-generation plant during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 12.

"This project more than doubles the amount of 60 hertz power, which is the power that the ships use, and more than doubles the power at CFAY," said Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Kiwus.

"Also, this is going to be done at a cost savings, and it's very friendly and very good for the environment. So, there are all kinds of benefits to this project. It's a fantastic project. The results of this project are phenomenal."

The Co-Gen plant is expected to greatly increase energy efficiency at CFAY, which will use expanding gases from combusted fuel to turn turbines to create electricity, according to NAVFAC Far East Resource Efficiency Manager Michael Gabiga.

"A ribbon-cutting, normally, is to commemorate the end of a successful project," said Noresco Construction Service Project Management Director Brian Neely. "In the case of an [energy saving performance contracting project], it's kind of just the very beginning of a long-term relationship. That's the 20-year service phase that we're going to go into."

"Over the next 20 years in a joint effort between NAVFAC Far East utilities department and Noresco Energy Advance, we're going to own, operate, maintain, keep this plant running and making steam and power for the plant," Neely said.

The co-generation (Co-Gen) plant project took more than three years to complete. During that time, those involved say they faced unique challenges when working to finish the project within the scheduled timeline, such as the language barrier between contractors who speak different languages and having to build a power plant that would generate both 50 and 60 hertz electricity.

"This is one, if not the largest [energy saving performance contracting project] ever completed," said Noresco Construction Service Vice President, Jerry Riley. "It was large; it was complicated; it was time-sensitive; it was mission-critical, and it involved such a wide range of entities and individuals that all had to come together to serve a common objective."

For more news from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, visit www.navy.mil/local/cfay/.