Navy, Duke Energy, Indiana officials celebrate renewable-energy initiatives

Indiana, Department of the Navy (DON) and Duke Energy officials spoke about their cooperative efforts on energy security and energy resiliency initiatives within the state during a recent presentation at the Indiana Capitol.

“We greatly value our partnership with Indiana and with Duke Energy,” Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment Dennis McGinn said. “It is collaborative and mutually beneficial efforts like this that helped the Department of the Navy surpass the Secretary of the Navy’s goal to procure one gigawatt of renewable energy by the end of 2015. On-base projects provide energy security for the host and surrounding communities by physically securing assets, diversifying the local power portfolio and boosting the base’s resiliency with the in-kind consideration received for use of Navy land.”

DON and Duke Energy recently said they have teamed up to develop a 24-megawatt direct-current solar facility at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane, pending approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. It would be one of the largest solar facilities in the state.

“Pending regulatory approval, the planned solar installation at Naval Support Activity Crane will be the first large utility-scale solar generating facility on Duke Energy Indiana’s system,” Duke Energy Indiana President Melody Birmingham-Byrd. “It’s a key milestone that advances us toward the goal of operating our company in a sustainable way.”