WIESBADEN, Germany -- More than a dozen energy managers and utility managers and specialists from across Installation Management Command-Europe participated in an energy workshop in Munich June 13-16.
The event, which was focused on energy transformation and renewable energy technologies, also included a convention, speakers, and hot topics important to the U.S. Army in Europe, according to Benjamin Stöber, IMCOM-Europe engineer responsible for gas and electricity contracts and technical lead for renewable energies.
“All that transformation is nothing new for us, but it has received more attention with the climate goals from the U.S. and the climate goal from host nations,” said Stöber, who led the effort to bring the IMCOM-Europe and garrison teammates to the event.
“There were different speakers from around the world, agencies, companies, all presenting their steps toward transformation, how they worked out strategies, what kind of technology they used,” he said.
Stöber also arranged for the group to have sessions with the German Miliary University, which was one of the most important portions of the workshop.
“They are doing transformation for the German military bases, so why not cooperate with those people who have to face the same regulations that we have in Germany and just try to cooperate with things and tools that we can use?” he asked rhetorically.
The chance to cooperate and learn from others was among the greatest benefits to other participants as well, according to Mark Fricke, Energy Manager at the USAG Benelux.
“For me it was an eye opener, because here at the Benelux, we are not a typical German garrison, meaning sometimes we’re a little different,” Fricke said, noting that his garrison does have oversight of the Army Prepositioned Stock site
in Duelmen, Germany.
“For me, it was really interesting to connect and to see everyone and to talk about the issues we have. Then you find out, most of the time you have the same issues that you’re tackling. And that really lifts you up,” he said.
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