Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic Lt. Cmdr. J. David McLeod, CEC, and John Breckner, P.E., were recognized for their contracting work supporting energy management programs during the 2018 Federal Energy and Water Management Program (FEMP) awards ceremony at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23.

McLeod, the Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division Parris Island director, and Breckner, the Public Works Renewable Energy Program manager, were members of two separate contracting teams that helped enhance Navy Shore Readiness with two important energy security and resiliency projects.

“On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, I would like to congratulate your team on being selected to receive a 2018 Federal Energy and Water Management Award,” said U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Programs Manager Terry Reid, in an email initially announcing the winners.

Reid went on to add that, the awards, which are in the contracting category, recognizes a team’s outstanding contributions related to energy and water cost savings, optimized energy and water use, and, or the use of advanced and distributed energy technologies at federal facilities in fiscal year (FY) 2017.

McLeod’s five-member contracting team from Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, South Carolina, awarded a $91.1 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) in FY 2017. Once complete, the site will be a near-net zero electricity purchase installation, enhancing energy resilience and readiness with its own reliable source of heat and power, combined with advanced controls and energy storage technology.

The ESPC will install a 3.5 megawatt combined heat and power plant and 6.7 megawatts of solar photovoltaic panels integrated with a battery energy storage system, and a microgrid control system capable of fast load shedding. These and other equipment upgrades will reduce energy consumption by almost 385 billion British thermal units and water consumption by 75 million gallons, with annual reductions of 88 percent and 25 percent respectively.

“I was proud to accept this award on behalf of a team that went above and beyond to fast track the award of our ESPC and meet the Navy's annual goal for financed energy projects,” said McLeod, who has served in the Navy for 20 years and has been a member of the NAVFAC organization since 2007. “In addition to supporting presidential goals for investments in energy efficiency, this project will leave a legacy of increased resiliency and sustainability at MCRD Parris Island for years to come.”

Breckner was a member of the Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut team that developed and executed a plan that enhances energy security and aligns Department of Navy resources to include a pending State of Connecticut Microgrid Grant Program, third-party energy financing, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative in-kind considerations, and an auxiliary power purchase agreement to pair highly-efficient fuel cells with an advanced microgrid system.

Contract modifications were implemented to overcome project barriers and bring a stalled generation project to fruition. This integrated approach is a win for all parties, with the partnerships paving the way for future ESPCs at the installation.

“Receiving this award is hugely satisfying because it ultimately represents future energy security and resiliency for the critical mission Submarine Base New London carries out for the Navy in defense of our country,” said Breckner, who has been with NAVFAC since 1993. “The teamwork I've seen on this project from those at New London and NAVFAC, including the leadership from LANT and HQ, has been instrumental in successfully moving this effort forward.”

The Federal Energy and Water Management awards were founded in 1981 by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Interagency Energy Policy Committee to recognize outstanding achievements related to energy and water cost savings, optimized energy and water use, and the use of advanced and distributed energy technologies at federal facilities.

FEMP holds its annual competition to honor federal employees, along with their private-sector partners, who have developed and implemented outstanding cost-effective projects and programs that help to cut energy waste and advance America’s progress toward energy independence, resiliency, and security, while also helping their agencies achieve mission-related goals.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic is the Systems Command that delivers and maintains quality, sustainable facilities, acquires and manages capabilities for the Navy's expeditionary combat forces, provides contingency engineering response, and enables energy security and environmental stewardship across an area of responsibility that spans from Georgia to Maine and as far west as Illinois. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region's facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

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