The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program recognized three Department of the Air Force teams and multiple individuals with 2022 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards for their significant contributions to energy and water efficiency within the federal government.
"Congratulations to the winners of this year's FEMP Awards," said Nancy Balkus, deputy assistant secretary for Environment, Safety, and Infrastructure. "These awards showcase the dedication of our energy professionals who are creating cradle-to-grave resilience so that our installations are prepared to deliver energy and water when and where needed, and to protect the nation, its values, and its interests."
Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, won for its energy savings performance contract. The project, contracted through the Defense Logistics Agency in collaboration with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, advances installation resiliency, security, and renewable energy usage, and includes $69 million dollars in guaranteed energy savings.
The ESPC includes a 1.5 megawatt solar photovoltaic carport array, integration of several different legacy control systems into a single cybersecure Energy Management Control System, optimized chilled water plants, and lighting upgrades.
Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, won for its innovative energy conservation and resiliency project, which included the construction of a Natural Gas Take Station and a dependent 4.6 MW cogeneration plant. The cogeneration plant represents the single largest energy resiliency improvement ever made on Hanscom AFB and provides over $3 million a year in energy savings.
Lastly, the Department of the Air Force Installation Energy Program won for its mission-centric approach to improve the resilience of energy and water systems. In 2021, the program published its Installation Energy Strategic Plan, an innovative living roadmap to bolster energy resilience for mission assurance. The resulting initiatives and projects, including installation energy plans, energy resilience readiness exercises, and its water program, have helped the department reduce energy use intensity on its installations by nearly 32% from the fiscal year 2003 baseline, and to decrease water intensity by nearly 27% from the fiscal year 2007 baseline.
Additionally, the Installation Energy Program is helping the department generate annual savings, meet mandates, and identify project priorities so it can continue to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace.
These Department of the Air Force winners are great examples of what bases and people are doing to develop and implement, cost-effective projects and programs that cut energy waste and advance America's progress toward energy independence, resilience, and security.
