SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Revenue meters began recording power usage Monday signaling the official start of commercial power for the Blatchford-Preston Complex from a 60-megawatt power plant.
Airmen with the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron began the process several months ago to transition from four expeditionary power plants, otherwise known as generator farms. The Airmen have been reworking facilities and the distribution grid in preparation for the planned switch from the generators to the on-base turbine plant.
"Several new missions and $300 million worth of facilities are relying on this power plant to come online. Without the increased capacity, operational dates would have been negatively affected," said Capt. Joel Bolina, 379th ECES operations chief. "This plant will increase our power production capability by two-thirds and provide the much needed power for opening the new Combine Air Operation Center and Central Command's forward headquarters."
The power plant offers more redundancy and will be more reliable.
"Turbines, which operate on the same principles as jet engines, are an efficient power generating system with three turbines designed to support the base's current power needs while one turbine stands by to pick up the energy load should another turbine fail," the San Diego, Calif. native said.
The plant will eliminate a need for load shedding due to a lack of power, said Captain Bolina. Load shedding is when the base's energy consumption nears the plant's maximum capacity. Before that happens, the base facility managers would need to start reducing their load by shutting off lights and any non-mission essential equipment.
"With the power plant online, the risk of a power outage is much lower now with the increase in capacity," said Captain Bolina.
Even though the plant is contractor built and run, the civil engineer squadron is ultimately responsible for providing power for the entire base, said Maj. John Christ, Air Forces Forward construction management office, and San Bernardino, Calif. native. The squadron will monitor and be indirectly responsible for maintaining it as well as paying the monthly utility bill.
"The whole idea behind the power plant is to move the base from expeditionary to enduring by providing a secure source of power," said Major Christ, who oversees major construction projects here and at U.S. bases throughout the gulf region.
"Two of the four gas-fired turbines are completed and have been in a final testing and commissioning phase providing power to Blatchford-Preston Complex facilities and proving its reliability," said Major Christ, who is deployed from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. where he teaches civil and environmental engineering.
"We have been planning this transition since 2006," said Captain Bolina. "We will ultimately eliminate 40 generator trailers from the various plants and reduce our power production contract by more than $20 million a year, as well as free up valuable real estate for future development. This effort reflects the great partnership we have with our host nation who have been a key supporter to bring the power plant to fruition"