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Vol. 25, No. 2, April 2006
Air Force leads Federal government in green power purchases
wind turbines
Projects like Warren AFB's 1.3-MW wind farm have helped to make the U.S. Air Force the Federal government's largest green power user. (Photo by United States Air Force)

The Federal government's largest green power purchaser is also the Environmental Protection Agency's No. 1 green power partner.

The U.S. Air Force received a Green Power Leadership Award from the EPA and Department of Energy in October. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that are significantly advancing renewable energy development through green power markets.

In fiscal year 2005, 32 Air Force installations purchased more than a million megawatt hours of green power, a threefold increase over FY04. "Air Force purchases account for 47 percent of all Federal green power purchases," said Master Sgt. Michael Ward, spokesperson for the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency.

AFCESA, located at Tyndall AFB, Fla., provides leadership and oversight of the Air Force's green power purchasing program. "Renewable energy improves security and reliability for the base and protects the environment," Ward explained of the Air Force's policy.

Dyess AFB, Texas, was the first Air Force installation to receive 100 percent of its power from renewable resources, and it was named Green Power Partner of the Year in 2003. Other facilities quickly followed the green power path, including several in Western's territory. Through its Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies program, Western has purchased both renewable energy and Renewable Energy Credits for bases, including Kirtland in New Mexico and Ellsworth in South Dakota.

Bases build on-site generators

The Air Force's program is not limited to buying green power. Currently, 10 bases have on-site generation projects active or under development. Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic was the first facility to produce its own power with a 2.4-MW wind farm. A landfill gas powerplant supplies Hill AFB in Utah with a portion of its electricity.

The most recent project to come online is a 1.3-MW wind farm at F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming. Warren also bought green tags from Western, but the wind resources were too good to pass up . "The wind was definitely there, so why not take advantage of it," said Jim Snook, AFCESA renewable energy program manager. "There's enough to support more turbines, if the opportunity comes up in the future."

While the Warren wind farm generates only about 30 percent of the facility's electricity, it still increases the security of its energy suppy. All critical systems at Warren have backup power in the form of a diesel generator, Snook explained. "If there was a massive power outage in the western states, those generators would kick in. Power from the wind farm would give the generators more 'miles to the gallon.' "

Regional resources offer different options

That kind of energy insurance would benefit any military installation, one of the reasons the Air Force recently performed an evaluation of resources at all U.S. bases. The study showed many potential sites for renewable generation. "There's more wind at Warren, geothermal at Mountain Home [Id.], solar in California and the southwest," said Snook.

Regional industries can provide another source of renewable energy that helps both the bases and the surrounding communities. Poultry farms on the East Coast have waste disposal problems, said Snook. "A couple of bases are working with developers to collect turkey and chicken litter to burn in generators. If the project goes forward, the bases get the renewable energy credit and a long-term cost break on power. It will also help to improve the water quality in the area."

Partnerships with developers have played an important role in advancing the Air Force's renewable energy program. "Developers have the technology, but often they don't have the money for construction," said Snook. "A long-term power contract with the government can help them secure financing. The Air Force gets the renewable attribute as part of the contract."

Those contracts must provide a hedge against rising electricity rates, he added. "It's important that an installation is life-cycle cost-effective."

At Ellsworth AFB, for example, economics combined with other factors to make green tags a better option, even though the area has excellent wind resources. Snook compared that to California where, he said, "Electricity rates are high, there are a variety of local rebate programs and there is plenty of sunshine. The combination justifies a PV installation."

Goals met, new goals set

A few weeks before the Green Power Leadership Award winners were named, DOE announced that the Federal government had surpassed the renewable energy goals set by Executive Order 13123.

The Air Force undoubtedly deserves a portion of the credit for that achievement, but it won't be resting on its laurels. "We will continue to aggressively pursue our green power strategy," Ward stated, "both by purchasing and developing projects."

The 2005 Energy Policy Act will be setting new goals for Federal agencies, however, and that may require some changes in the Air Force's plan. "We're waiting to see what the new rules are going to be," Snook acknowledged.

What won't change is the Air Force's commitment to renewable energy. The new goals will only challenge AFCESA to make the wild blue yonder greener.

 

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