Fort Bliss energy program seen as model

Nov 5 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Ramon Bracamontes El Paso Times, Texas

The U.S. Department of Defense may emulate efforts at Fort Bliss as it works to become more energy efficient, an assistant secretary of the Army said Thursday.

Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, spent the day at Fort Bliss, assessing how the post is doing its mission to be more environmentally friendly. She said Fort Bliss is to be commended because it is planning its water supply for the next 300 years.

"Water is becoming a scarce resource," Hammack said. "To have an inland desalination

plant functioning at this level is certainly something that can be emulated in other places."

Hammack is the primar y adviser to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on all Army matters related to installation policy, oversight and coordination of energy security and management.

While at Fort Bliss, she joined the post's commander, Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, in signing the Army Family Covenant. The covenant's motto is that the strength of the soldiers comes from the strength of their families. Its goal is to help take care of the soldiers and their families.

The covenant is needed, Pittard said, because the U.S. has been at war for nine years, making it stressful on the soldiers and their families.

"Fort Bliss

is a post that cares," Pittard said. "And it's not just about the 64-seat dental facility or the new hospital or the new housing. It's really about an attitude of how we take care of our families."

Hammack said Fort Bliss is among the best at taking care of its families and the environment.

"It's good to see all the renewable energy being used here," she said.

Mostly though, she was impressed with the $87 million desalination plant that provides fresh water by processing brackish water.

The plant produces about 3.5 million gallons of water per day, and Hammack said it fits nicely into the Army's mission to be more energy efficient.

The plant is credited with securing Fort Bliss' future when the post was in danger of closing because of a scarce water supply in this region.

Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.

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