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Military Installation Achieves Net Zero Energy Milestone
U.S. MARINE CORPS/JENNIFER PARKS
Charles Phelps, Shane Hillhouse and David Lin were awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal by Colonel Michael Fitzgerald during the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Net Zero Ceremony, May 24, 2022, on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.
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ter 10 years of effort, Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albanyhasicially become the first electrically Net Zero installation in the Department of Defense, running primarily on renewable energy sources. MCLB Albany not only pro- vides strategic value to Marine Corps warfighters through sustainment and modernization but now boasts the impressive achievement of the first Net Zero installation in the Depart- ment of Defense, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David H. Berger said. This is the result of years-long efforts of hard-work- ing leaders at the base. The MCLB Albany Energy Program began in 2005 with the goal of making the installation the first in the Marine Corps to reach Net Zero. On average, MCLB Albany's consumption peak is four to six megawatts in winter and eight to 11 mega- watts in the summer. Besides being eco-friendly, the installation has seen many other benefits from its switch, such as a decreased reliance on taxpayer dollars and the assurance of full operation amid natural disasters. This is tremendous work by everyone on base, Col. Michael Fitzgerald,commandingicer, MCLB Albany, commented. The base can be self-reliant in terms of energy with the resources we have available. The taxpayer gets a breakto me, it is a great way other bases can look at the various definitions of Net Zero. To achieve this goal, the installation signed a contract with Constellation New Energy, valued at $170 million for a 23-year life span. This contract brought with it seven conserva- ion measures: 8.5MW biomass steam tur- bine generator 2.1MW landfill gas generator controls Lighting retrofit (10,000K bulbs/132 facilities) Four industrial air compressor upgrades 68 transformer replacements Three boiler mud-drum instal- lations Smart micro-grid controls/ supervisory control and data acquisition Besides energy savings, the installation has already seen a significant change in cost sav- ings. The installation has seen the following achievements over the last several years as aresultofenergyiciency efforts: Base-wide heating, ven- ilation and conditioning upgrades. Cost: $1.42 million; annual savings of $386,000 Geothermal storage heat pumps. Cost: $7.2 million; annual savings of $521,000 Borehole thermal energy storage. Cost: $5.2 million; annual savings of $224,000 Energy-savings performance contract for a compressed air/light/infrared heat proj- ect. Cost: $14.2 million; annu- al savings of $1.2 million Energy-savings performance contract for the landfill gas generator. Cost: $20.6 million; annual savings of $1.67 million. Completed through a contract with Chevron, it includes three miles of pipe- line and a 25-year purchase agreement with Dougherty County for the purchase of methane gas. MCLB Albany is the first installation in the entire De- partment of Defense to achieve Net Zero energy, generating more energy than it consumes by implementing a range of climate-friendly solutions, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said. I am proud of the work accomplished at MCLB Al- bany, working in close coordina- ion with a variety of partners in making this base more resilient, saving taxpayer dollars and being better equipped to fulfill its primary mission: ensuring Marines around the world have what they need to fight and win. The base, though they have already met Net Zero standards, will be working to continue and increase their efforts for an eco-friendly installation with intentions to prepare for all-electric government vehicles and their upkeep needs. MCLB Albany hopes its efforts will inspire other bases to follow in their footsteps and take steps towards more environmental- ly friendly, cost-effective and disaster-prepared methods of operation.
Source: U.S. Marines
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