Wind turbines, solar panels save federal prison $400,000 a year, powers
one-third of electricity need
James Quigg / Staff Photographer
The federal correctional facility produces enough solar and wind power to meet
the needs of its adminstration building.
By MIGUEL GONZALEZ/Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE — Victorville Federal Prison officials have found a way to keep
thousands of inmates comfortable and lock up $400,000 a year in taxpayer savings
at the same time.
After two years of development and construction, the federal complex last week
started running an alternative energy project that uses a 262-foot-tall wind
turbine and solar panels that are able to power a third of the total electricity
the prison needs to operate.
"We are doing our part to reduce power and now that we are running this
project, we are seeing positive results in saving money and energy," Steve
Witczak, the prison's Facilities Department general foreman, said.
The solar/wind energy project is one of only a few in the state. Computers
control the system, measuring temperatures inside and outside the prison and
uses that information to adjust the production of power.
According to Project Manager Doug Cooper of NORESCO, the company that installed
the $5 million energy system, the project will generate 825 kilowatts of power
on peak days, enough to meet about one-third of the energy needs of the complex.
Cooper said the turbine, which produces energy once the wind speed reaches 15
mph, can provide about 750 kilowatts while the solar panels can produce 75
kilowatts of power. Ideally, the perfect situation for the two energy sources to
run at full power is a sunny and windy day.
"We have quite a few of those days in the High Desert. That's why we
decided to go on with the plan to install the solar panels and the wind
turbine," Cooper said.
NORESCO has guaranteed prison officials energy savings for the next 20 years,
Cooper said.
The project also entitles the prison to receive rebates from Southern California
Edison, according to Region Manager Jerry Silva.
"Applications for rebates have been completed and right now we are doing
final inspections of the new alternative project, but if it all goes well they
could receive rebates of up to $2.5 million that will be used to pay for the
cost of the project," said Silva, who added that more institutions and
companies are starting to look into alternatives to energy production.
Witczak admitted that being one of few complexes to have this technology in the
state gives the staff a sense of pride.
"It's pretty cool that see the process of how wind and sun rays can be
converted into power," he said. "The federal government is very big on
saving resources and this is a good alternative for us to generate our
energy."