Bliss Sets Renewable Energy Goal Using Diversified Systems
By Virginia Reza Fort Bliss Public Affairs
Fort Bliss’ investment on renewable energy and conservation has already proven to be profitable after only two years of implementation. Fort Bliss is already producing more than 1.3 percent of its renewable energy needs, including 10 percent in conservation. The mandated goal is to produce 7.5 percent renewable energy by 2015, though Col. Joseph Simonelli, Fort Bliss Garrison commander, said he was hoping for 10 percent by 2013 during a briefing, June 26, as he welcomed members of the Solar Energy Association to Fort Bliss.
Fort Bliss currently spends $19 million annually on energy bills, an amount expected to increase to $95 million by 2025 if no action is taken now. The ultimate goal is to produce all energy consumed through renewable energy by 2025.
“This is the beginning of a big range of an aggressive energy plan, which will save Fort Bliss at least $5 [million] to $10 million in energy bills yearly in spite of the growth,” said Toufic Alhaj, Business Operation Integration and Energy Division chief.
Alhaj, who came back from Germany three years ago, said most homes there have roof solar panels despite only about 140 days of sun a year, and every major city in Europe has a solid-waste-to- energy power plant. Alhaj said he was shocked to see few taking advantage of free energy in a town where the sun shines 330 days a year.
“This place is a gold mine for solar energy power,” said Alhaj. “We need to stop depending on fossil fuel. It’s killing us financially.”
The Bliss strategic energy plan is to diversify power sources to provide renewable energy 24 hours a day with a wide array of inputs, such as the sun, the wind and the earth, to provide different types of economical opportunities. Not only is the strategy set to save electricity, but also tax payer money and, in the near future, is expected to help deployed Soldiers, as extended-range electrical military vehicles are already under assessment.
“Renewable energy is becoming a weapon of war,” said Alhaj. Currently $15 million for buildings retrofits, including solar panels and $10 million for energy conservation, has been invested. Two wind test towers have been put in place and a geothermal exploration project at McGregor Range, N.M., is scheduled to begin in early September.
“As the military led in the civil rights movement, I think it’s going to lead the revolution on renewable energy to make it acceptable to the rest of the country,” said Jon Lear, a representative of Ruby Mountain Inc., and who is responsible for the geothermal project. “When the military shows that it makes sense and they do it in an organized and systemic way, which is exactly what is happening at Fort Bliss, everyone will recognize it does work. The technologies will have been worked out by the military that was willing to take the first step.”
Completed energy projects include a solar-thermal system at Replica Aquatic Center, solar day-lighting at eight different facilities, solar photovoltaic panels in three locations, insulation to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards in various buildings, a utility monitoring and control system, and advanced metering and electrical lighting and controls at numerous facilities within Fort Bliss.
