AF honors Warren member for exceeding ‘greener’ standards Published Nov. 30, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson 90th Space Wing Public Affairs F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- A man stands with focus and determination on his face. He worked almost four years researching, planning and coordinating this project, and he succeeded. He made a difference, he did something to help the Air Force reach its goal of developing a "greener" way of life, and he received national recognition for his accomplishment. The idea came from something that is free: wind. Kenneth Davis, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of design and the Warren Wind Farm Project manager, earned a Federal Energy and Water Management Award in the category of renewable energy Oct. 31 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes individuals, teams and organizations throughout the federal government that save taxpayers in energy costs through energy efficiency improvements and innovative project management strategies. "I have been working on this project pretty hard for the past few years and it was nice to be recognized," Mr. Davis said. "I was honored that my commander and [Air Force Space Command] put me in for this award." Mr. Davis directed every stage of project development, which began in 2001: obtaining wind data, verifying the possibility of wind power generation, securing design and construction funding, and turbine and site selection. "I dug into it and educated myself on the ins and outs of wind power and renewable energy," Mr. Davis said. "And there were a lot of obstacles to overcome." Mr. Davis and his team proved wind energy was practical, obtained test data to determine what kind of wind resource had to be available to make the project cost effective and found a site that wouldn't affect any flight patterns. "A lot of things have to converge for the wind turbines to work out," Mr. Davis said. "You have to have a good wind resource, find an appropriate site, complete an environmental assessment and coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration and local airport controllers. Everyone around here knows that it is windy, but finding the right location was still an important challenge." It has been two years since the turbines' completed construction, and they are taking "charge." The two 660-kilowatt turbines generate enough electricity each day to power about 522 homes, which equates to about 10 percent of Warren's total electrical consumption, Mr. Davis said. "And the offset of 8 to 10 percent is pretty good considering we only have two turbines." Warren's electrical consumption was reduced by more than 3 million kilowatt-hours in fiscal 2006 saving more than $150,000. This was the first Air Force wind turbine generator installation in the continental United States and the only application of current generation wind technology on a federal installation. Mr. Davis earned this recognition for his hard work, and the steps he set in motion will help the Air Force meet its goals of becoming greener. According to his research, the Air Force estimates the wind turbines at Warren will displace more than 134 million pounds of green-house gases during the next 20 years, equivalent to the carbon dioxide absorbed by 670 acres of trees or avoiding driving 161 million miles. This awards program is one of several held each year in conjunction with Energy Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of energy efficiency and renewable resources and federal efforts to lead by example in energy management. "Energy conservation is a very important issue right now across the [Defense Department]," Mr. Davis said. "These wind turbines are not conservation, per se. They are a generating source of energy from a renewable source." Mr. Davis said there are already plans to bring in a third, and larger turbine to Warren, with construction scheduled to begin in late 2008. Another day has ended, but the work continues. Mr. Davis looks at his award every day and knows he has done something great for the Air Force and the people of Warren. His efforts will be visible for years to come, and there is a lot the Air Force can learn from his research