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NAS Key West Visit, Consider Renewable Energy System

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091030-13
Release Date: 10/30/2009 2:18:00 PM

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Affairs

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- As part of the Energy Awareness Month, a group of Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West personnel took a tour of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) in Marathon on Oct. 21.

"The reason why FKEC is such an attraction is because it has the first grid-tied solar PV array in the Florida Keys and is the second largest in the state of Florida," said Public Works Department Key West Resource Efficiency Manager Samuel Musora. The array is capturing the sun's energy to help power homes and businesses served by FKEC's Marathon Substation.

"Since solar power is a renewable energy, our interest here at NAS Key West is driven by our renewable energy goals set by The National Defense Authorization Act of 2007," stated Musora. The act requires that 25 percent of all federal facilities' electricity consumption must come from renewable sources by 2025. Interim goals of 5 percent by fiscal year (FY) 2010 and 7.5 percent by FY 2013 are also mandated.

In FY 2008, NAS Key West consumed 38,242 megawatt hours (MWH) of electricity. In order to provide 25 percent of that amount from renewable sources, 9,561 MWH would need to be derived from renewable sources by FY 2025. Interim requirements are 1,912 MWH by FY 2010 and 2,868 MWH by 2013.

NAS Key West currently utilizes zero MWH of renewable electricity, leaving 1,912 MWH of renewable electricity yet to be obtained in order to meet the FY 2010 goal. Renewable electricity consumption can occur through the installation of renewable generation or through the purchase of green power from a utility provider. NAS Key West's Renewable Energy Plan addresses a strategy for both methods (The generation through solar PV and the purchase of green power).

The assistant secretary of the Navy (Installation and Environment) energy program's preference is to install renewable energy generation, if economically feasible, before purchasing renewable energy from utility provider.

A $69 million regional American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contract was awarded on June 29 to Atlantic Contingency Constructors, LLC out of Norfolk, Va. NAS Key West will benefit from nearly $10 million for solar PV on 15 buildings. The energy team at NAS Key West has proposals for an up to 10 megawatt system at Fleming Key. This system would be approximately 880 kW roof array in total. The project is currently in design and installation of PVs should start later this fiscal year (2010).

"Other technologies we will be pursuing to meet these goals will be wind power and biomass plants," said Musora.

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