Air Force signs agreements with N.M. for green power

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  • By AFPN
SANTA FE, N.M. --  Air Force officials signed several agreements July 24 with the governor of New Mexico that will add up to 245 megawatts of additional renewable energy in the state.

These memorandums of understanding are the result of a two-day New Mexico Energy Investment Initiative Conference, which brought together high-level experts on energy from across the country as well as key leaders from New Mexico to work together on renewable energy projects.

According to the agreements, officials from New Mexico and the Air Force, along with the cities of Alamogordo, Clovis and Albuquerque, will pursue four new clean energy projects with Holloman, Cannon and Kirtland Air Force Bases.

"We've worked hard to put together strong policy and powerful incentives to attract and keep clean energy development in our state, and putting together specific clean energy projects is the next logical step," Governor Bill Richardson said. "Each of these clean energy projects -- from moving Holloman and Kirtland AFBs toward green power purchasing to the generation of electricity from biogas -- strengthen our claim that New Mexico is the clean energy state."

"These opportunities support the Air Force Energy Program to increase supplies of green energy and provide distributed power to the bases," said Bill Anderson, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics. "These are the first renewable energy MOUs Air Force (0fficials) have signed with any state in the nation."

During the energy conference, the parties were able to put together four memoranda of understanding:

1. An agreement among Air Force, city of Alamogordo and the state of New Mexico officials to pursue a project to supply solar power to Holloman Air Force Base.

2. An agreement with Air Force, Southwest Biomass Cooperative, city of Clovis, and New Mexico state officials to pursue the creation of a plant to utilize New Mexico's abundant dairy waste. This may consist of a cogeneration project to generate electricity, and a bio-methane pipeline-quality gas project.

3. A memorandum of understanding among Air Force, city of Albuquerque and New Mexico state officials announcing the Air Force's intention to pursue green power purchasing at its facilities in New Mexico.

4. An agreement between Air Force, city of Clovis, New Mexico state officials to pursue a wind energy project.