October 16, 2014 -- The sky’s the limit when it comes to finding cost-effective ways to conserve and recycle available energy sources and to upgrade current systems, which support Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and its tenants.
Motorists driving around the base can spot solar-powered traffic signs at various intersections; solar panels on roof tops at the barracks and some may have read or heard about other alternative energy sources provided from the landfill gas generator at the installation.
Along with these improvements, a number of additional enhancements are underway.
Tractors, digging and earth-moving equipment are all indicators that additional upgrades are replacing back-up power generators, underground water lines and overhead fiber optic cables.
Among some of the vehicles and workers seen on the installation is a team with Bigham Cable Construction, Inc., Mediacom, Albany, Georgia, contractors.
According to Chris Aters, contractor, his company has been installing and upgrading overhead fiber optic cables around the base.
The crew will be working over the next several weeks to complete the contracted project.
MCLB Albany generates more power
The power generator upgrade will ensure power is never compromised for MCLB Albany’s Emergency Operations Center, Jamie Dillard, electrician journeyman, A. West Enterprises, Electrical Contractors, said. The upgrade will also provide benefits for buildings 3500 and 3600.
“This equipment is going to keep everything up and running,” as he worked installing the generators.
Fred Broome, director, Installations and Environmental Division, MCLB Albany, said concerns surrounding the Emergency Operations Center losing power in an emergency drove the decision to install generators.
However, consideration for other necessities such as air conditioning, phone lines as well as the difficulty in isolating one office as opposed to powering the entire area dictated the generators servicing both buildings 3500 and 3600.
“It just made sense to install a generator that would service all those areas, rather than trying to isolate one office,” Broome said. “In the event of an outage, power would be restored within 10 seconds and service both buildings indefinitely.”
MCLB Albany goes underground
For the next several months, perhaps for the next year, personnel can also expect to encounter contracting companies working on various other projects throughout the base.
According to Jerry Barber, contractor, Tybe Company, Newbern, Tennessee, his company has been contracted to install approximately 22 miles of new water lines throughout the base.
“So far, we have only (completed) about 3-4 miles of pipe,” Barber said. “There are two or three other companies out here working on the project, but they all (are) sub-contracted under us.
“Right now, we are just (installing) the new pipe,” Barber pointed out. “But, when we are completely finished, we will connect the water to the new pipes and turn it off from the old pipes.
“We were just testing the lines (between buildings 3500 and 3600, recently) to see if there were any leaks,” he said. “Right now, it looks like we are in pretty good shape.”
Bill Harris, Tybe Company, contractor/supervisor, also commented on the project and its duration.
“We’re really just getting started on this project,”
Harris, backhoe operator/project supervisor, said. “We are scheduled to be laying several miles of water lines base-wide, so we’re going to be here for a good while.”
Both Barber and Harris estimated the project will take roughly a year to complete.