Owego, NY (WBNG Binghamton) - The Owego-based defense contracting company Lockheed Martin is spreading its wings.
Along with Whiting Turner Construction, the company won a $15-million contract from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
They're joining together to install a biomass energy system at the VA Medical Center in Canandaigua.
For more than a year, this is what has been used to generate energy for Lockheed's 1.6 million square foot campus in Owego.
Wood waste is trucked in and turned into steam-power.
"We're very excited about getting into this business, and the reason we're getting into this business is because it's all about global security. We believe energy is a security issue. We're a national security company, so it's natural for us to use our engineering talents to apply them in the renewable energy way," said Chris Myers, VP of Government and Energy Programs.
It has saved the defense contractor almost one million dollars since installation.
It's carbon footprint: down 25%
Now, Lockheed's been tapped to build a similar cost and energy-efficient system for the VA medical center in Canandaigua.
The biomass system could replace the the oil and gas systems the VA uses for energy now.
Lockheed hopes to lead the way, as other organizations look to install similar facilities
"We've got some great engineers here in Owego, they've done some great work here at our own facility, and now we're applying that to our customers, VA is the first one, we hope there's many more," said Myers.
Lockheed hopes to have the Canandaigua facility up and running within the next 3 years.
Lockheed's partner in the project, Whiting Turner, will lead onsite construction and work with the VA to integrate the system.
The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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