Army Goes Green In Fort Carson, Colorado, With "The solar station"

DENVER (AP) -- Green has been the Army's color for years. Now the service is trying to go green, from a Colorado base to the battlefield.On Monday, the Army will dedicate a solar power station at sprawling Fort Carson, south of Colorado Springs. The solar station -- the largest of any Army base in the country -- will provide 2 megawatts of power, enough to supply 540 homes or more than 2 percent of the base's power consumption.Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, a strong supporter of renewable energy, awarded Fort Carson an "excellence in renewable energy award" Thursday in part for its solar efforts.
Similar projects are planned for other army bases, said Thomas Warren, who has held several titles at Fort Carson, including director of environmental compliance and management.Karen Linne, a Fort Carson spokeswoman, said the Army hopes to save about $300,000 in energy bills over a 17-year contract with providers involved in the project, including Xcel Energy, Colorado Springs Utilities and the Western Area Power Administration.Being environmentally sensitive is serious business, even in wartime, Warren said."Fort Carson kind of works from the perspective that by being a leader, you help others to be aware," he said.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.
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