Portland Air National Guard Base recognized by Energy Trust of Oregon

by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel
142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/3/2014 - PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ore. -- Emphasizing the benefits of energy saving and sustainability, the 142nd Fighter Wing was recognized by Energy Trust of Oregon during a presentation ceremony held here Thursday.

Speaking before members of the FW and others in attendance, Peter West, Director of Energy Programs for Energy Trust of Oregon, formally acknowledged the Oregon Air National Guard members for their service.

"First of all I want to say thank you from all of us [at Energy Trust of Oregon] for what you do both in combat and in peace time," West said.

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power.

During the past two years the 142nd FW has been working with Energy Trust of Oregon to implement efficiency standards with projects on exterior lighting, flight line lighting, and aircraft hangar interior lighting and vehicle maintenance facilities.

It was during the ceremony that West, along with his staff presented a cash incentive check to the 142nd FW for $166,324.

"The lighting specific project, will save you [the 142nd Fighter Wing] over a million kilowatt hours in the next 17 years. It will pay off in about six years so that will be more than 10 years of free power," said West.

The benefits to the local community works as a "Double Kicker" as the savings keeps the money invested locally helping to create jobs and reduces electric rates to customers at the same time.

"Nearly 14,000 jobs are regularly employed doing these types of jobs annually," said West.

The collaborative effort between Oregon Energy Trust and the 142nd FW enables the Portland Air National Guard Base to meet a 2005 Executive order, directing a reduction in energy consumption by 30 percent for more than a ten year period.

"Beginning in 2012 we began to work with Energy Trust of Oregon to implement many of the changes with lighting, which includes changing over 1,000 fixtures," said Col. Rick Wedan, the 142nd Fighter Wing commander.

Almost immediately the results began to make a difference in energy computation.

"In 2013 we [Portland Air National Guard Base] spent over half million dollars in electricity at this base, yet we saved more than $60,000 through the upgrades we accomplished," said Wedan.

The savings in energy and cost to tax payers also helped reduce the carbon footprint of the Portland ANGB.

"Over 385 tons of carbon dioxide emissions were reduced in 2013 as well," said Wedan.

The cash incentive will allow for future projects here at the Portland ANGB.

Wedan also described how the incentive check will be used.

"Now we can move ahead with aggressive interior lighting projects, and also begin enhancing our HVAC control systems in our buildings," he said. "We want to thank Energy Trust of Oregon for helping us do our part to help us decrease our demand on our very precious environmental resources."