FRAMINGHAM, Mass. and PETALUMA, Calif. — Ameresco Inc. has entered into a $43 million Energy Savings Performance Contract with the U.S. Coast Guard at the service’s largest west coast training facility, Training Center Petaluma.
The project will be the USCG’s first battery energy storage system project and the Department of Homeland Security’s largest solar renewable energy project integrated within the USCG’s first fully functional, renewable energy-powered microgrid, the company said in a release.
Training Center Petaluma faces a range of energy security and resiliency challenges endemic to the climate and regional power infrastructure in northern California. In light of the regularity and severity of weather events and utility interruptions affecting the site, USCG competitively selected Ameresco in February 2021 to fast-track development of a comprehensive Energy Savings Performance Contract to enhance the site’s electric infrastructure and resiliency posture. The microgrid will integrate existing distributed backup generators with a new 5 megawatt (MW) solar array and an 11.6MWh battery energy storage system to power the entire site in the event of a loss of utility. Planned improvements also feature the deployment of new power distribution transformers, Smart controls in 10 buildings across campus, LED lighting improvements for over 8,000 fixtures, installation of new electric vehicle charging infrastructure and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment upgrades.
“This contract award enables continuity of operations in an environment of unpredictable climate hazards and will increase Training Center Petaluma’s relevance throughout the region, while sustaining our Coast Guard mission ready total workforce,” said Capt. Steven Ramassini, commanding officer for the training campus.
Once completed, Training Center Petaluma will realize a cost savings of more than $1.2 million in the first year alone. The project will also reduce the site’s annual electricity and propane consumption by 8.7M kWh and 50.8 kgal, respectively.
“We are so honored to lead the design and development of this historic project for the United States Coast Guard,” said Nicole Bulgarino, executive vice president, Ameresco. “The upgrades outlined integrate energy efficiency and clean onsite energy with advanced microgrid controls and significantly enhance the training facility’s energy resiliency. The finished project will set a strong precedent for future Federal renewable generation and battery storage projects.”
Construction on the project is set to begin in October 2021 and be complete by fall 2023.
