PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Hill AFB, Utah, launched an initiative designed to reduce the Base’s electric consumption and increase the Base’s resiliency to electric outages, improve the resilience of the power supplies to itself, and reduce its reliance on energy sources outside the fence line.

The project, which entails the installation of a new solar array at the base, will save the Air Force millions of dollars over the 20+ year lifespan of the system and brings the Air Force Base one step closer to microgrid capability with the potential to expand the project size and capability to add electric storage to the system.

Energy Systems Group (ESG), the Air Force’s Energy Savings Performance Contractor, contracted with CS Energy to be the design – builder of the system and performed all scopes required to engineer, construct, and tie the system into the electric grid. 

ESG and CS Energy, working in close collaboration with the Air Force, delivered an exceptional project built safely, on schedule. In addition, the project was constructed using American-made equipment. Because the array is being installed through an Energy Savings Performance Contract, there is no upfront costs to the government, saving the taxpayer’s money. The contractor finances the project, in this case for a 23-year term, and is compensated through the proven savings and guaranteed performance of the project.

The Hill AFB project provides clean, renewable, and distributed energy directly to the Air Force.  This ultimately not only saves the Air Force money, but also reduces how much the Air Force relies on the electric grid.

The team received the Best Project Award of Merit for outstanding performance in the Energy/Industry category from Engineering News-Record (ENR).