The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story celebrated Earth Day on Friday by putting into commission three wind turbines to reduce its dependency on outside sources of electricity.
The project is part of a broader Navy goal of having 50 percent of its installations become "net zero" energy consumers by 2020. That means the bases would generate enough energy to offset their usage.
The Skystream 3.7 wind turbines are mounted 55 feet in the air, the Navy said. Two will supplement power to maintenance facilities associated with the base golf course while the third helps power a Naval Special Warfare training facility.
“With their proximity to the winds coming across our beaches, the turbines are producing better than expected,” said Kevin Pepper, the base's resource efficiency manger, in a news release. “However, this is a test project for the Navy right now to collect data so we can see how well they perform and to determine further application Navy-wide. Although these are small turbines, each unit could provide enough power to cover half the energy cost of a 1,500-square-foot house for one year.”
The turbines, which cost $89,000, were each expected to produce 400 kilowatt-hours of energy per month for the base. Initial readings show production at 500 kilowatt-hours.
Future projects at the base will involve solar energy and a "cool roof."
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One Small Step for National Security
...another giant leap for DoD. This is one of many alternative energy solutions coming out of DoD. POTUS sets these goals through executive orders and through the years they are usually achieved. Contrary to popular belief, the military has been leading the way in many of these green initiatives. Recently, an F-18 conducted a successful test flight using a mixture of one half jet fuel and one half bio-fuels.
People slamming this initiative or going off topic and questioning each others patriotism is juvenile.
but which POTUS
It would have taken more than the 27 months of President Obama to conduct the environmental impact studies, develop the contracts, advertise the contracts and then approve the contracts to some vendor and then the vendor to manufacture and install.
Heck, this idea could have been started during Clinton's term. Or this idea could have come from some sailor's suggestion. But it probably was not funded or originated from the current POTUS (but then it could have been, but not likely).
Give credit where it is earned and not like a nobel peace prize.
Way too expensive
At $.12/kw/hr that means that those 3 wind turbines are saving the Navy about $180/month which works out to $2160/year. That means the payback will be over 41 years. Normal payback for "green" changes should be in the range of 8-12 years. Granted electricity will only get more expensive but they will never recoup the cost for these wind turbines. Another government pork project.
That's a residential rate
$0.12/kwh is average residential rate. The base is probably paying around $0.07 or less. So 500 kwh per turbine as quoted, and I am gracious here since in the summer it will not be that high, and $89k installation cost, that's a 71 year payback. I pass several of these Skystream turbines on my way up and down the Eastern Shore. Most of the time, they are not turning. Also keep in mind that turning, does not equal generating since there is a "cut in" speed. In addition, Skystream had a lot of electronic issues when these units were introduced. I hope those problems have been solved. Small scale wind is not economical unless utility rates are VERY high, there is no grid power to be had, or they are located in a high wind class area (which HR onshore is
Not too expensive
1. They said it is an experiment
2. It's not all about cost, the environment matters too
3. It's the military, there's bound to be a $14,000 toilet seat attached to each turbine
Thanks for setting prescient ...maybe VB City Council will learn
WTG,
currently one would need a variance from zoning board to get three turbines installed....
VB City is not as green friendly as they purport to be
Amazing...
The Navy finally does something commendable!!!
Navy is an innovator!
Since day one of our history in America the military has been an innovator of technology! Remember the moon landing! All the technical advances and new products? The Navy is trying to do their part to get off foreign oil addiction. What are you doing?
Skoops, I would hope that
Skoops, I would hope that you would also find our freedom (including the freedom to make these comments), which is preserved by the Navy and other armed forces, commendable as well.
must be a perspective thing
When I read that it was clear that skoops was saying that with all the recent BAD news it was good that the navy has done something that made the news in a good light.
After the Noble exercise on XO movie night, the chief being court martialed, the various top ship people being relieved, the non-combat related deaths on the Enterprise, the sad oversight work of the San Antonio, etc. it is GOOD to have good news that is commendable.
Probably not saying that commendable work STARTED now.