Department of the Navy

On July 26, 2012, the Department of the Navy (DoN) issued a request for information seeking to identify interest and sources for a potential large scale renewable energy generation facility at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake compatible with the station’s operational mission. This project will be in support of the President’s 1 GW renewable energy goal for the DoN. The purpose of this solicitation is to help the DoN formulate a concise acquisition process for possible future requests for proposals.

The DoN will consider opportunities to host the private development of a large scale renewable energy generation facility potentially with a capacity of 20 MW to 200 MW, in accordance with 10 USC 2667 (Leases: non-excess property of military departments and Defense Agencies), 10 USC 2916 (sale of electricity from alternate energy and cogeneration production facilities), and/or 10 USC 2922a (contracts for energy or fuel for military installations).

It is seeking information on a development that would generate energy for sale to the electric grid and/or for potential consumption at other DoN installations in the Southwest. The DoN has an Interagency Agreement with Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and fulfills most of its electric demand in California through “direct access” power, so there is a potential for other DoN facilities to consume energy from this development through this arrangement.

It should be noted that, as part of the request for information, the DoN is seeking information, inter alia, about energy technologies that would maximize the land opportunity, market opportunities for power sales to non-DOD facilities, risks related to participating in a competitive electricity environment, financing issues, interconnection issues, transmission constraints in Southern California Edison Company’s “North of Kramer” system, renewable energy incentives, RPS issues, and leasing costs for similar BLM or privately-owned land. It is also seeking information and new conceptual ideas for alternatives for the sale of power and for the “taking of power,” such as energy storage.

All information submitted will be considered proprietary and confidential.

U.S. Army Energy Initiatives Task Force

On July 26, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville office issued a notice that the request for proposals will be issued in the next 15 days.