July 17, 2019

ENERGY AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO WEST VIRGINIA VETERANS AFFAIRS

Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Louis A. Johnson VAMC in Clarksburg, Hershel Woody Williams VAMC in Huntington and Martinsburg VAMC in Martinsburg will enter into energy saving performance contracts for the design and installation of energy and water conservation measures at these facilities. This announcement comes the same week the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed two bills U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Ranking Member of the Committee, introduced to improve energy efficiency efforts in federal buildings like VA facilities.  

“One of the smartest ways to reduce emissions and move towards energy innovation solutions is to improve our energy efficiency. Because the federal government is the largest energy consumer in the nation it makes sense to start there. I’m pleased to see West Virginia’s VA leveraging the private sector to improve their energy and water infrastructure and as a result reduce their utility bills and costs to taxpayers. This week my All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act and Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act of 2019 passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Both of these bills would encourage increased energy efficiency in federal buildings through these types of public-private partnerships,” Ranking Member Manchin said.

The main conservation measures the VA facilities will receive are lighting improvements, HVAC improvements, chiller plant improvements, building control systems, and water efficiency measures.  Making these conservation improvements will result in an approximately $48 million infrastructure investment. The DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program estimates that this project investment will generate an estimated 383 U.S. jobs in manufacturing, construction, engineering, and project management. The annual energy to be saved from this project’s conservation measures is equivalent to the annual energy usage of 1,530 average U.S. households.

To learn more about the All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act click here.

To learn more about the Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act of 2019 click here. 

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