US Navy gets green energy plant


Chevron Energy Solutions and the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany are today celebrating completion of the Department of the Navy's first landfill gas cogeneration plant.

The southwest Georgia plant produces 1.9 megawatts of renewable electric power and steam by burning landfill gas collected from a nearby landfill. Chevron Energy Solutions also completed industrial lighting retrofits in 82 buildings and expanded the existing energy management control system.

When combined with the cogeneration project, these measures reduce the base's purchase of utility power and reduce its carbon emissions by 19,300 tons annually, equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the road.

"This project offers significant benefits to the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and Dougherty County," said Col. Terry V. Williams, commanding officer, MCLB Albany.

"Chevron Energy Solutions has helped us surpass federal renewable energy goals in our pursuit of becoming the 'greenest' Marine Corps installation in the nation. Not only does the use of this renewable power improve the base's energy security and reliability, it also creates a valuable long-term source of revenue for the county. This is a win-win-win."

Chevron Energy Solutions designed, developed and managed construction of the plant, and will maintain the landfill gas-to-energy facility, pipeline and processing equipment.

The facility houses a dual-fuel engine generator, a stack heat recovery steam generator and two dual-fuel boilers. The primary equipment can operate on landfill gas or natural gas, which provides energy security benefits. Chevron Energy Solutions guarantees system performance for 22 years.

The plant is being dedicated in a ceremony today, with military, government and business officials in attendance.