by Jbs122308 f5 — December 26, 2008—The US Department of Energy (DOE) has just announced that it will award sixteen new Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) that could result in up to $80 billion in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects at federally owned buildings and facilities.
The new contracts provide for a maximum individual contract value of $5 billion over the life of the contract, eliminate technology-specific restrictions, and allow federal agencies to use these contracts in national and international federal buildings.
Sixteen energy service companies were awarded contracts: Ameresco; Chevron Energy Solutions; Clark Realty Builders; Consolidated Edison Solutions; Constellation Energy Projects and Services Group; FPL Energy Service; Honeywell International; Johnson Controls Government Systems; Lockheed Martin Services; McKinstry Essention; NORESCO; Pepco Energy Services; Siemens Government Services; TAC Energy Solutions; The Benham Companies; and Trane US.
DOE notes that the federal government is the largest single user of energy in the US. Federal goals require that federal agencies reduce energy intensity 30% from 2003 levels and reduce water usage by 16% by 2015 from the 2007 usage levels, and require that at least 7.5% of all electrical needs at federal facilities be supplied by renewable energy by 2013.
ESPCs are used to help the federal government meet its energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy goals, explains DOE. ESPCs are contracts under which a contractor designs, constructs, and obtains the necessary financing for an energy savings project, and the federal agency makes payments over time to the contractor from the savings in the agency’s utility bills. The contractor guarantees the energy improvements will generate savings. After the contract ends, all continuing cost savings accrue to the agency.
More information about the new contracts is available from the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Web site.
