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The U.S. Army is looking for a few good renewable energy projects. Some $7 billion worth.
On Tuesday the Army began accepting bids for green energy installations that will be deployed on military bases and facilities across the U.S. The Army will sign contracts to buy the electricity generated by solar, wind, geothermal and biomass projects for up to 30 years.
“It is the intent of the government only to purchase the energy that is produced and not to acquire any generation assets,” the Army stated in the solicitation. “The contractor shall develop, finance, design, build, operate, own and maintain the energy plant.”
In other words, instead of paying the local utility for its electricity, a base would pay a solar energy company like SolarCity or Sungevity. That creates business for renewable energy companies as well as economies of scale that in the long run can lower the cost of green power.
The program is part of a Department of Defense initiative to meet at least 25% of energy demand on its bases from renewable sources by 2025. The military is also aiming its bases to become “net zero” consumers of electricity – generating more power than they use by installing solar and other renewable energy systems.
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