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Navy Starts Work on New Solar-Generated Electricity System on Guam

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100505-14
5/5/2010

By Jesse Leon Guerrero, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs

Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a solar photovoltaic system at U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) May 4.

The 250-kilowatt system will generate electricity by converting sunlight collected in solar cells made of semi-conducting materials.

Capt. Peter Lynch, commanding officer of NAVFAC Marianas, described the project as a "step in the right direction."

"This is really about a commitment by the U.S. Navy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Lynch. "It is a strategic imperative that we reduce that demand from foreign oil products, and that asset that is renewable is something that we want to take advantage of."

The solar photovoltaic system is the last component of a three-component conservation program implemented by NAVFAC Marianas to reduce energy consumption and provide a more sustainable building infrastructure throughout NBG. The Navy has already retrofitted 42 of 59 designated facilities at NBG with more energy-efficient lighting. It has also completed optimization work for heating, ventilation and air conditioning in 10 of 44 buildings. The primary contractor, Johnson Controls Government Systems, LLC, of Milwaukee, Wis., expects to finish all three of the projects, valued at $34.1 million, by September 2010.

Lynch said the Navy's energy consumption costs Joint Region Marianas about $83 million per year. When completed, the solar photovoltaic system and other energy-saving measures will cut into that cost by saving about $1.7 million, or two percent.

"It's a big effort, but it's vitally important to our national security and to the American taxpayer, in terms of reducing the bill to the annual requirement for power," said Lynch. "It's an exciting time. This is an exciting project."

Kevin Evans, energy manager for Joint Region Marianas, said the Navy's long-term goal is to achieve 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2025. The Department of the Navy is also targeting goals of having 50 percent of its total energy consumption coming from alternative sources, 50 percent of its installations being net-zero energy consumers and reducing petroleum use in the commercial fleet by 50 percent, all by 2020.

Evans said that the groundbreaking and the Navy and Air Force's efforts to conserve energy fall in line with Executive Order 13514, dated Oct. 5, 2009, which calls for an integrated strategy toward sustainability in the federal government and makes a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions a priority for federal agencies.