USA - First large-scale wind turbine at a Marine Corps facility

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 annually about $515,000 based on the current energy rate. Brown power, electricity generated from the combustion of fossil fuels, is 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 Gary Simon, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command's (NAVFAC) Southwest Renewable Energy project construction manager for the wind turbine project.

NAVFAC Southwest Energy Team of Contract Specialist Monica Hernandez and Senior Program Leader Phu Vu awarded the 1,500-kilowatt wind turbine project for the first large-scale wind turbine ever procured for a Marine Corps installation in November 2007. The project is one of many renewable energy projects NAVFAC Southwest in San Diego manages for the Department of the Navy.

In July 2008, Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Gen. James T. Conway led the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. The official party included the CMC, Commanding General Marine Corps Installations West Maj. Gen. Lehnert, MCLB Barstow Commanding Officer Col. Kenneth Enzor, NAVFAC Southwest Executive Officer Capt. Robert Fahey, Southern California Edison (SCE) Vice President Business Customer Division Lisa Cagnolatti, SCE Director Government and Institutions Steve Sullivan, SCE Utilities and Savings Contract Program Manager Phillip Consiglio, ACCO Engineered Systems Vice President Doug Lemons, Brownco Construction President Scott Brown, and AAER Wind Energy, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Gagnon.

Southern California Edison is the primary contractor to provide 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.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net