Navy’s Wind Turbines To Save $1.2Million In Annual Energy Costs
The Department of the Navy (DON) has debuted its largest wind energy project to date–four 275-ft. wind turbines with blades spanning 177 ft.–at the U.S. Naval Base at Quantanamo Bay, Cuba.”
The wind energy project will save taxpayers $1.2 million in annual energy costs, and will reduce the consumption of 650,000 gals. of diesel fuel, reduce air pollution by 26 tons of sulfur dioxide and 15 tons of nitrous oxide and greenhouse gas emissions by 13 million lbs. per yr.
“Our renewable energy projects, like the Guantanamo Bay wind turbines, demonstrate the Navy and Marine Corps team’s commitment to energy conservation,” said William Tayler, director, DON Shore Energy Office.”
Each of the four turbines will generate 950 kilowatts (kw) of electricity. Together, the four turbines will generate 3,800 kw, which is enough electricity to supply about 25 percent of the peak power needed to operate the base. In years of typical weather, the wind turbines will produce almost 8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.”
Construction of the wind energy project began in July 2004 and cost nearly $12 million. The project was made possible through a partnership between the Navy and NORESCO of Westborough, Mass., as part of an energy savings performance contract (ESPC).
These energy contracts allow the Navy to achieve federal energy saving requirements by using public sector financing to improve energy efficiency and further the goals of the United States to be less dependent on foreign oil imports, to be good stewards of the environment and to be in the forefront of developing and using renewable energy technology.
The Navy’s worldwide energy program is managed by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. The program includes state-of-the-art technology and design, the most energy efficient products, and a focus on individual contributions toward improved conservation and operations and maintenance strategies that significantly reduce energy consumption by Navy and Marine Corps installations worldwide, saving taxpayers more than $500 million each year.
In 2004, the Navy became the first U.S. government agency honored with a Platts Global Energy Award for its extraordinary leadership and achievement in energy management.
