Marine Corps Opens Base-Wide Energy Independence Project with Innovative Partnership

Courtesy Photo | The Marine Corps recently opened a new combined heat and power plant at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The $91 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) project also financed other infrastructure upgrades and energy resilience measures using the savings generated by traditional energy conservation measures. (Courtesy photo of Ameresco)  

ARLINGTON, VA, UNITED STATES

06.25.2019

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Installations Command

The Marine Corps’ Energy Program recently marked the opening of a comprehensive energy resilience and energy infrastructure project with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, S.C. The $91 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) project, features a new combined heat and power Plant, full system back-up (power and steam) and on-site generation (renewable and storage) all centralized in a cutting-edge microgrid providing both energy security and resilience to meet MCRD PI’s mission of “Making Marines.”

“The Marine Corps has set the bar for not only the U.S. Department of Defense, but for all federal agencies, when it comes to base-wide energy independence and energy security projects with this ESPC,” said Randy Monohan, HQMC Energy Projects Officer.

The project provides 10 megawatt (MW) of on-site distributed sources of generation – coupled with battery storage and secure microgrid controls – that will reduce or eliminate utility outages and give the installation the capacity to sustain its critical training operations when the grid goes down.

“The biggest benefit for us is resiliency,” said Andy Litteral, Public Works Officer for MCRD Parris Island. “We have the ability, if there is a natural disaster, to be able to produce our own power and be self-sufficient.”

Under the ESPC, MCRD Parris Island will finance other infrastructure upgrades and energy resilience measures using the savings generated by traditional energy conservation measures.

“Ameresco, our private sector partner now for the next 22.5 years, will maintain responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the new energy assets, allowing the current and future Commanding Officers to focus on other essential functions and critical services, as the energy for the installation is secure and resilient,” added Monohan.

Awarding this state-of-the-art resilience project to Ameresco, an energy service company, leveraged private capital through a U.S. Department of Energy contract vehicle, and is the largest ESPC project completed by the Marine Corps to date.

For more information on how the Marine Corps is improving energy reliability, resilience and efficiency, visit the MCICOM Energy website at: https://www.mcicom.marines.mil/Units/GF-Facilities/GF-1-Energy.

For any media questions, please contact Major Simba Chigwida, Marine Corps Installations Command G-7, Acting Communications Strategy & Operations Director and Legislative Liaison, [phone], [e-mail]

• Date Taken: 06.25.2019
• Date Posted: 06.25.2019 15:06
• Story ID: 329092
• Location: ARLINGTON, VA, US