Demand Management, Energy Efficiency, Solar  -  June 21, 2017 - By Megan Corsano

Agriculture Dept. inks $4.2M energy savings contract

U.S. Forest Service facilities in the Pacific Northwest will receive energy efficiency upgrades through a $4.22 million contract expected to reduce electricity and natural gas consumption in the region by 50%.

The U.S. Forest Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, manages 154 national forests across the country. The upgrades, provided by Green Generation Solutions LLC, or GreenGen, are planned for more than 390 facilities within Forest Service Region 6, which encompasses forests in parts of Oregon, Idaho and Washington.

The energy savings performance contract, ESPC, between the Forest Service and GreenGen includes the installation of "lighting, HVAC, and solar photovoltaics (PVs) to reduce energy consumption throughout 52 sites with over 392 buildings, including office and administrative, housing barracks, mechanical sheds, and fire truck stations," according to a statement released by GreenGen on June 21 announcing the project.

Forest Service 5 completed a similar ESPC eight months ago for $2.7 million, through which GreenGen has already begun energy efficiency upgrades in nine sites in Southern California. These improvements are expected to reduce electricity and natural gas consumption by 90.5%.

GreenGen claims the Region 6 ESPC will save the government $230,035 in the first year and return $7.5 million in energy and cost savings during the contract period. The upgrades are scheduled for Deschutes, Malheur, Mount Baker Snoqualmie, Mt Hood, Ochoco, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Siuslaw, Umatilla, Umpqua, Wallowa-Whitman, Okanogan-Wenatchee, Willamette, and Colville National Forests.

The project reflects a trend of the U.S. Forest Service participating in efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy. In 2013, they announced $2.5 million in grants to provide 10 small businesses and community groups the resources for wood-to-energy projects to promote clean energy production.

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