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A group of assembled contractors and engineers on Thursday was able to get details and ask questions about a request for proposals to supply Fort Drum with millions of dollars in renewable power.
We do believe we have a good project, and one that will be profitable, said Erich Kurre, director of the posts project for the U.S. Armys Energy Initiatives Task Force.
About 30 people attended the pre-proposal conference held Thursday at the Dulles State Office Building.
According to the governments listing, power would come through either an on-post biomass facility with a generation capacity of 15 to 28 megawatts or a separate plan that would provide renewable energy for a period of 10 years.
The two proposed on-post locations for development are the site of a biomass facility being redeveloped by ReEnergy Holdings LLC, Albany, on 2nd Street Southwest, or a 27-acre greyfield site near the posts line with LeRay, near Steinhilber Road and Route 26. James W. Corriveau, the posts director of public works, told attendees the greyfield site was previously a portable asphalt plant.
The costs discussed for building a new on-post facility included ensuring compliance with wetlands and species conservation requirements by the state and federal governments, as well as a connection study before linking the new power source to National Grids lines.
Plans for renewable energy at Fort Drum come from a from a military-wide policy initiative. The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act codified that 25 percent of the energy used by the Department of Defense come from renewable sources.
Following the morning information session, contractors went to view the posts electric infrastructure.
Proposals for the project are due March 15.