Heartbeat of Eielson: Power plant fuels Iceman mission

by Senior Airman Zachary Perras
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/22/2013 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- We turn the lights on when we wake up. We plug our cars in and crank the heat in our homes in the dead of winter. We turn on our computers when we get to work.

All of these actions are second nature, yet it may not be widely known that all of them, and Eielson's capabilities, are made possible thanks to the Central Heat and Power Plant.

The harsh environmental demands of Interior Alaska make Eielson unique. Things taken for granted in the Lower 48 could potentially make or break the daily success here. Because of this, workers at the CHPP do not take their job lightly.

"The power plant truly is the heartbeat of what we do as the Iceman Team, especially going into winter," said Brig. Gen. Mark Kelly, 354th Fighter Wing commander. "What's done here is vital to every single Airman and their families, as well as our overall mission."

There are roughly 6,000 personnel using energy each day on Eielson. Factor in the winter weather - facilities that must be kept heated in order for pipes to stay functional, cars constantly being plugged in - and the importance of the power plant truly shows.

The base's primary source of energy is coal, of which more than 500 tons a day, up to 1,000 in the dead of winter, is used to run the power plant, said Marty Overlin, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron superintendent of heating and power.

The coal is burned in a furnace, which then heats water in a boiler to create steam. The steam turns a turbine, converting energy into electricity through a generator.

At the end of the day, heat and electricity is the framework for mission readiness, Overlin said. Without the power plant running, bad things happen, and they happen fast.

"The plant has to operate each and every single day of the year and it has to operate without any hiccups," he explained. "Eielson relies on us to accomplish our day-to-day functions seamlessly because if we don't, the whole base will feel the impact."

The CHPP is an important asset to the Iceman Team, providing the power and heat needed to overcome Interior Alaska and keeping Eielson Airmen truly ready to go at 50 below.