A. Lee Graham Reporter
Siemens Government Technologies Inc. has been awarded a contract to construct the largest federal wind farm on land east of the Pantex nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly plant just northeast of Amarillo. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) awarded the contract for an installation planned to feature five, 2.3-megawatt turbines on 1,500 acres of government-owned property. The Pantex wind farm is expected to save an average of $2.9 million annually over the 20-year contract term. “As a world leader in the wind industry, Siemens will bring reliable, secure, renewable energy to the critical mission at the NNSA Pantex plant,” said Judy Marks, President and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, commenting in a news release. “Mission execution and guaranteed savings are Siemens hallmarks in the federal market, and we look forward to delivering both for the NNSA on this landmark project,” Marks said. Established by Congress in 2000, the NNSA operates within the U.S. Department of Energy to oversee management and security of the nation’s nuclear weapons, nuclear nonproliferation and naval reactor programs. The wind farm is expected to generate about 47 million kilowatt hours of clean energy annually, more than 60 percent of the electricity required annually for the Pantex facility. That’s enough electricity to power nearly 3,500 homes and will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 35,000 metric tons per year, the equivalent of removing more than 7,200 cars from the road each year or planting more than 850,000 trees, according to Siemens. Siemens Government Technologies Inc. focuses on the federal market in providing solutions for infrastructure, energy, industrial services and health care needs. More information is available at www.siemensgovt.com.