Army inks 20-year, large-scale renewable energy deal at Fort Drum signing ceremony

By U.S. ArmyNovember 4, 2014

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Fort Drum Signing Ceremony Commemorative Poster
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Nov. 4, 2014) -- A Fort Drum signing ceremony commemorating agreements for the production and delivery of 100 percent of the installation's electricity requirements from an on-site renewable energy biomass generation facility was held last week.

The Hon. Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, flanked by New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand, and other state and local representatives, signed the commemorative posters alongside officials from the Army, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy and ReEnergy Holdings LLC.

The biomass generation facility's system capacity is 60 megawatts -- more than double Fort Drum's peak load of 28 megawatts -- and will provide electricity to the utility grid.

Hammack spoke to the importance of such agreements for the Army, saying "Our mission depends on secure, uninterrupted access to energy -- both at home and abroad," said Hammack. "There is an increasing, world-wide demand for these scarce energy resources, and the rising cost of oil, limited supply of resources, unstable weather conditions, and effects of climate change will only increase the difficulty of maintaining that critical access."

The project meets the Army's energy security objectives by providing Fort Drum with energy to maintain mission critical operations during times of regional grid outages. Fort Drum will remain connected to the national grid as a trusted source of power.

Other officials participating in the signing ceremony included Mr. Richard Kidd, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability; Ms. Amanda Simpson, Executive Director of the Office of Energy Initiatives; Brig. Gen. Mark M. McLeod, Commander DLA Energy; Brig. Gen. Michael L. Howard, Acting Senior Commander Fort Drum; Col. Gary A. Rosenberg, Garrison Commander Fort Drum; Mr. Davis Tindall, Director of the Installation Management Command; and Mr. Larry Richardson, CEO of ReEnergy Holdings LLC.

"We have done well, but it is only a start," said Hammack. "The collaboration and support from the military, other federal agencies, private industry and utilities is imperative to solve the challenges that lay ahead -- both technologically and fiscally. Through our comprehensive efforts we will enhance military capabilities and ensure that we maintain a ready, resilient and strong Army."

The Army remains committed to executing large-scale renewable energy projects and is currently working on over two dozen projects in 14 states in support of its goal of achieving one gigawatt of renewable energy by 2025.

Related Documents:

Fort Drum Fact Sheet [PDF]

Related Links:

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy and Environment)

Energy News

Fort Drum

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy

Office of Energy Initiatives