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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Hill base recognized for going green
By MITCH SHAWPower company awards Blue Sky recognition
HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- The official colors of the United States Air Force are blue and silver, but on Tuesday, Hill Air Force Base was recognized for being green.
In a ceremony at the Ogden Air Logistics headquarters, Rocky Mountain Power recognized Hill's participation in the company's Blue Sky program.
Under the program, the base contributes to Rocky Mountain Power's renewable energy efforts by purchasing certificates for renewable energy sources, such as wind power from windmills. Rocky Mountain Power then buys renewable energy on Hill's behalf to equal its purchase.
"We want to be smart with our energy dollars," said Maj. Gen. Kathleen Close, Ogden Air Logistics commander.
"We hope our participation in this program inspires others to commit to using renewable energy resources."
Rocky Mountain Power President Richard Walje said the base is currently the largest Blue Sky participant in the Rocky Mountain Power service region of Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
Barbara Fisher, 75th Air Base Wing Environmental Public Affairs spokeswoman, said Hill supports 750,000 kilowatt-hours of Blue Sky renewable energy each month. Over a year's time, Hill's renewable energy purchase will avoid 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, creating annual environmental benefits equivalent to driving 19.2 million fewer miles or planting 3,535 acres of trees.
Because Hill's monthly electrical bill is several hundred thousand dollars, base utility manager David Abbott said thinking green is essential.
"We have changed to more energy-efficient lighting in our maintenance hangars and other facilities," Abbott said. "During peak energy use periods during the summer or winter months, we alert base employees by pop-up announcements on their computers to take extra energy conservation measures. We do any small thing we can to cut energy use."
Hill also has sought out less conventional approaches to energy management. For several years, the base has purchased steam heat from the Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District in Layton. This steam is produced by burning garbage from local municipalities.
In 2005, the base constructed a facility that converts naturally occurring landfill gas into electricity. This facility produces 2.3 megawatts of electricity to meet a little more than 1 percent of the base's electrical consumption.
This fall, Hill will begin a project to install ground-based solar panels that will provide additional renewable energy.
For more information on the Blue Sky program, go to www.rockymountainpower.net/bluesky.
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