Monday, May 2, 2005

New energy system locks up savings

Wind turbines, solar panels save federal prison $400,000 a year, powers one-third of electricity need

James Quigg / Staff Photographer
The federal correctional facility produces enough solar and wind power to meet the needs of its adminstration building.

By MIGUEL GONZALEZ/Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE — Victorville Federal Prison officials have found a way to keep thousands of inmates comfortable and lock up $400,000 a year in taxpayer savings at the same time.

After two years of development and construction, the federal complex last week started running an alternative energy project that uses a 262-foot-tall wind turbine and solar panels that are able to power a third of the total electricity the prison needs to operate.

"We are doing our part to reduce power and now that we are running this project, we are seeing positive results in saving money and energy," Steve Witczak, the prison's Facilities Department general foreman, said.

The solar/wind energy project is one of only a few in the state. Computers control the system, measuring temperatures inside and outside the prison and uses that information to adjust the production of power.

According to Project Manager Doug Cooper of NORESCO, the company that installed the $5 million energy system, the project will generate 825 kilowatts of power on peak days, enough to meet about one-third of the energy needs of the complex.

Cooper said the turbine, which produces energy once the wind speed reaches 15 mph, can provide about 750 kilowatts while the solar panels can produce 75 kilowatts of power. Ideally, the perfect situation for the two energy sources to run at full power is a sunny and windy day.

"We have quite a few of those days in the High Desert. That's why we decided to go on with the plan to install the solar panels and the wind turbine," Cooper said.

NORESCO has guaranteed prison officials energy savings for the next 20 years, Cooper said.

The project also entitles the prison to receive rebates from Southern California Edison, according to Region Manager Jerry Silva.

"Applications for rebates have been completed and right now we are doing final inspections of the new alternative project, but if it all goes well they could receive rebates of up to $2.5 million that will be used to pay for the cost of the project," said Silva, who added that more institutions and companies are starting to look into alternatives to energy production.

Witczak admitted that being one of few complexes to have this technology in the state gives the staff a sense of pride.

"It's pretty cool that see the process of how wind and sun rays can be converted into power," he said. "The federal government is very big on saving resources and this is a good alternative for us to generate our energy."

Miguel Gonzalez may be reached at miguel_gonzalez@link.freedom.com or 951-6232.