POWERGRAMS

The U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker received the Association for Defense Communities' (ADC) 2014 Installation Excellence Award for energy-efficiency improvements undertaken with help from Alabama Power. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby presented the award on Capitol Hill recently as military officials joined with Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell and Alabama Power employees. "Partnerships are key to supporting military installations and communities near them," Shelby said. "The surrounding communities around Fort Rucker have continued to be supportive and have worked to protect the installation with initiatives like the partnership with Alabama Power." Fort Rucker met a federal mandate to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015 by forming a partnership with Alabama Power. The company is installing more than $18 million in conservation measures, placing the post on a path to surpass government goals. "As our nation and the Department of Defense strive for energy efficiency, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker has achieved – and exceeded – its energy goals through the use of innovative partnerships," said ADC President Bob Murdock. "Other installations are now following the leadership of Fort Rucker and Col. Stuart J. McRae." The cost-saving measures will save the southeastern Alabama installation about $2 million a year and include a variety of initiatives. A 51-kilowatt photovoltaic array at Fort Rucker was paid for through the sale of three natural gas generators that were no longer operating. The solar project generates more energy than the remote air field requires, achieving another goal: becoming a net-zero energy user. Alabama Power has installed $1.7 million in energy-efficiency measures, including lighting, lighting sensors, heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades, infrared heat, LED outdoor lighting and an innovative heat pump water heater connected to a boiler. The remaining improvements are being designed or installed by Alabama Power and should be completed by September. These include high-efficiency chillers in a new central water plant with a chilled water loop, new heat recovery systems, high-efficiency boilers and solar water heating. Those projects will reduce the installation's energy usage by 10 percent. Fort Rucker enjoys tremendous support from surrounding communities, including the cities of Daleville, Dothan, Enterprise and Ozark. Leaders in those four cities have committed $2 per resident annually to promote Fort Rucker and its mission over the next three years. "We are honored to have nominated Fort Rucker," said Boswell. "Fort Rucker is a valuable asset to our area. The work being done there, from training men and women to be highly skilled aviators to conserving energy in partnership with Alabama Power, is world-class." The installation benefits from representation on the Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission created by the legislature to retain and enhance the military presence in Alabama. Retired Brig. Gen. Rod Wolfe and Boswell represent Fort Rucker and the surrounding region on the commission. By Linda Brannon Partnership helps Fort Rucker earn energy-efficiency honors ENERGY EFFICIENCY 4 Alabama Power Legislative Affairs Manager Jason Davis joined Boswell, McRae, Shelby, Wolfe, John Mitchell of Friends of Fort Rucker, Energy Services Engineer Randy Wynn and Southern Division Market Specialist Steve Sherman at ceremony in Washington, D.C. Photo by AJ McCafferty New solar array helps power Fort Rucker.

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