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The INL Design team also became members of two prestigious national awards in 2004 for their efforts in implementing United States Government renewable energy projects. These awards are:

The award is designed to promote leadership in the federal employees. The expertise and learning that we gathered in the Ascension Island Renewable and FE Warren energy projects helped us become Key technical team members of the US Air Force Renewable Energy Team who assessed renewable energy across nation at DOD facilities, installed many assessment systems and recommended energy procurement and installation guidelines. The product of the team will be used by energy managers at many defense bases for years to come. These leadership awards are used to promote leadership in the US Government and reward people who made a difference INL is proud to be part of this team.

This award was based on the Ascension Phase Two wind farm, and recognizes the difficulties of integrating large wind with diesel power plants, desalination systems, and solar energy systems without impacting the mission, while still saving Millions of dollars for the next 20 years. This award was based on the design of an operating facility that increased fuel savings to over a million gallons of fuel every year, and produces over 17 million gallons of water every year with no fuel oil burned. The energy produced from the additional wind turbines produces enough energy to make all water and offset most of the diesel fuel consumed for electrical power.

The DOE awards Federal Agencies every year for outstanding work where they save energy. It is a very prestigious award and the program is a great success. In 1997, 'INL was one of those receiving awards in this program. We were the design team on the Air Force Small Group Award Winning Team. The project was The Ascension Wind Farm. This wind farm was commissioned Fall of 1996, and produces 3,200,000 kw hrs of electricity every year and saves over 250,000 gallons of fuel. The Space Command Award Winning Team is pictured below, followed by the FEMP write up.

RENEWABLE ENERGY AWARDS TO SMALL GROUPS

In FY 1996, the efforts of this team resulted in the Air Force Space Command completing construction of four 225-kilowatt wind generators to supplement electrical power supplied by fuel oil engine driven generators at its remote tracking station on Ascension Island. This wind energy project was actively pursued due to the remote location of the island and the cost associated with fuel oil shipments. The wind machines are uniquely designed to allow kilowatts for low wind levels that would normally put the generator in a non-producing mode. This feature takes significant advantage of the wind environment at the site. During its first four months of operation, the wind farm produced over 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity. In addition, emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides have been reduced by 930,000 pounds and 32,000 pounds, respectively. With an average wind speed on the island of 16 to 17 miles per hour, the wind generators are expected to produce from 3.0 to 3.5 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy annually. Fuel oil consumption is expected to be reduced by 287,000 gallons for annual saving of $350,000.

This Project has been a excellent example of how team work can save emissions, fuel, and money.