BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- With the rising energy requirements across the U.S. Space Force, Space Delta 4 team members are constantly developing and implementing ways to efficiently save money and create a self-sustaining power source.
The 6th Space Warning Squadron at Cape Cod Space Force Station, Massachusetts, is one of the units leading the way and investing in a renewable source, which in turn significantly cuts costs. As they consume about $5,000 worth of electricity every day, they were able to install wind turbines to save a tremendous amount each month in electric cost. Operational since 2014, they have generated enough electricity to repay the initial investment more than four years ahead of schedule.
The wind turbines do not directly generate electricity for use on Cape Cod SFS. The electricity produced by the wind turbines is connected to the local utility company’s transmission lines. Using a net metering agreement with the utility company, they receive a credit on their electric bill each month that reimburses them for the electricity produced.
“Each year, we have produced an average of 82.5% of our annual electrical usage,” stated Lt. Col. Timothy Sheehan, 6 SWS commander. “[During the last fiscal year], our electric bill was $1.752 million, but we generated $1.388 million in electricity offsetting 79% of our electrical usage.”
The geographically separated unit falls under DEL 4 at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. The idea to install wind turbines for then Cape Cod Air Force Station came from Air Force Space Command’s Civil Engineer Directorate working with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center.
The wind turbines aligned with purposes: Meeting the requirements identified in Executive Orders 13423 and 13514 and taking advantage of the high wind resource in the Cape Cod area which allows for cost savings on the site’s electricity bill.
“[The executive orders] established goals and requirements on federal energy consumption including generating renewable energy on federal property and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” stated Stephen Mellin, the 6 SWS support officer. “AFCEC was in the process of installing two wind turbines to support their ground water cleanup program on Joint Base Cape Cod. AFSPC was able to build on the work already accomplished for AFCEC’s turbines to make the case to install two more turbines for us. The two additional wind turbines at CCSFS were constructed in FY 12 as a $8.5M Energy Conservation Investment Project managed by AFCEC.”
This project is one of many successful applications of utilizing critical thinking to solve problems, drive innovation and optimizing the use of human capital, technology and resources to accomplish our mission.
The mission-focused teammates at DEL 4 serve as the ever-watchful eye for the United States and its allies to maintain our day-to-day life and stay ahead of adversaries. Riding the wave of technology and showing initiative too is how the world’s premier missile warning Delta creates momentum to take leaps and bounds into the future.
Videmus Mundum!