Friday, December 28, 2012

No Apocalypse for You: Mayans Were Wrong; DOD Energy Blog Continues


I know many of you will be disappointed in the failure of the apocalypse to materialize.  Having to pay that huge Visa bill is among my personal regrets.  That being said, our predictions for the coming year will be out after I recover from New Year’s Eve….but not right away! 

With the fiscal cliff looming and talk of “self-amputation” among DOD contractors, Defense energy efforts have been a candle in the gloom.  DOD is making significant progress, often in a “one step forward, two steps back” process.  The SPIDERS project is a clear triple if not a homerun.  The Fort Bliss 20MW project seems to be one foul tip after another.  And the AEITF is pinch-hitting for the Corps of Engineers while they sort out the MATOC.   To completely beat the analogy to death, OE has been sent back to the minors to hone their skills.

In a government hamstrung by infighting, lacking of clear leadership and beset on all sides by nimrods who “just want to drown it in the tub”, the DOD energy gang soldiers on.  Their efforts may not be appreciated in their lifetimes, but history will reflect that they made a difference when it counted.  They are not winning many style points, but they are advancing the cause.

Predictions for the coming year will focus on contracting efforts, energy conservation/efficiency, smart grid technology and renewable/alternative options for generation.  If there is anything else you would like me to make up stuff about, feel free to send in your ideas.  Until then, Happy New Year!  Dan Nolan

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

AEITF Turns Trash to Cash: The Next Wildcat Project


Hello from Spain!  O.K., I am almost over the loss to Navy….almost. Let’s get back to the business of ball, er, I mean, energy security.

The Defense Logistics Agency – Energy (DLA-E) has pushed out RFP number 2 to get up to 29 MWs of electricity from biomass.  The Army Energy Initiatives Task Force has worked closely with DLA to create this opportunity. This will be another lease situation supported by a long term power purchase agreement. 

The response is due on the Ides of March 2013 and the preproposal meeting is not yet scheduled so don’t let it spoil your holidays.  The solicitation is available on FBO under solicitation number SP0600-13-R-0401.  Informed sources tell me that number three is on the way.

I want to personally thank the AEITF for not making a liar out of me. On January 2, 2012, I predicted that 2012 would be the year of the wildcat project.  My prognostication was that only one off projects would come forward because it would take the entire year to get the MATOC online.  This appears to be the case.  Well done.  I am working on my predictions for 2013, so may hibernate for a week to do so.  Have a great holiday season.  Dan Nolan

Friday, December 7, 2012

Lions, TGERs and Goats: Go Army!


Great article on my friend, Jerry Warner’s Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery (TGER).  The system has been through a number of iterations, solving the problems identified by field testing.   This innovative work will change how we deal with waste in forward locations, so that nothing is wasted.   This is great work that started at Edgewood and was supported by the REF.  Until we can reduce the waste we produce, let’s use it wisely. 

Now the military has had a solution to garbage for thousands of years.  It is, of course, the goat.  The goat can and will eat all kinds of garbage and is not particular about what it consumes.   There are drawbacks to goats that are obvious.  They are loud, filthy, obnoxious and odiferous.  They are generally found in herds, blindly following the butt in front of them.  Despite these obvious drawbacks, they do serve a purpose.  If you need to acquire goats to reduce the garbage you have, head to Lincoln Financial Field in Philly tomorrow.   There should be about 4000 of them there.  Take your pick.  They may be in bad shape after 1500 EST.  BEAT NAVY!  Dan Nolan