Schumer Announces, After His Push, Army Contract Has Been Approved & Awarded to ReEnergy to Provide Renewable Power to Fort Drum

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that, after his push, the U.S. Army has signed off on and officially awarded a contract to ReEnergy Holdings, a renewable power provider in Latham, for them to supply power to Fort Drum in Jefferson County. With this contract, ReEnergy will be able to produce energy from biomass for Ft. Drum for the next 20 years, helping to make Fort Drum energy independent. In February, Schumer announced that the Defense Logistics Agency of the Department of Defense intended to award this contract to ReEnergy, but final approval was needed by the Army and the Office of the Secretary of the Defense before ReEnergy could begin supplying power and supporting local jobs. Schumer then pushed the Army to expeditiously approve the contract, and he personally called Army Secretary John McHugh to urge him to move quickly. The contract will help create more than 30 new jobs at the plant and more than 140 new jobs in ReEnergy's biomass supply chain. It is the Army's largest-ever renewable energy project.

"This contract is great for jobs in Upstate New York and for making Fort Drum energy-independent. It is the perfect marriage between an Upstate New York business and a North Country institution," said Schumer. "This 20-year contract is a major win for Fort Drum and the entire North Country region, as it will provide hundreds of residents with jobs and enhance Fort Drum's energy-efficiency and security. Now, Fort Drum will be able to access a reliable, low-cost and clean energy source located inside the fence, creating energy independence and putting Fort Drum at the forefront of the Army's ambitious renewable energy goals. I have worked hard to secure final approval of this contract and am pleased that this is finally becoming a reality."

Schumer has long been a supporter of this project and has lobbied the Army to swiftly approve this contract, as it will inject jobs and renewable energy into the North Country economy. In March, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy, in close coordination with the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF), issued the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Award to ReEnergy Holdings LLC for the purchase of up to 28 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the renewable energy biomass facility at Ft. Drum. This project will now include a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and provide the installation with 100 percent energy security and sustainability.

Source