Case Study: Elmendorf Air Force Base achieves 1M+ MMBtu annual energy savings with Ameresco's decentralized boiler ESPC

Elmendorf Air Force Base - Customer Case Study

Elmendorf Air Force Base engaged Ameresco to solve a failing, inefficient central heat and power plant (CHPP) that served nearly 800 buildings (about 9.3 million sq. ft.). The base needed a fast, secure solution that used locally available natural gas, met an aggressive two‑year construction window, preserved mission operations, and delivered on Air Force sustainability and energy‑reduction goals via an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC).

Ameresco delivered a $48.8M ESPC that decommissioned the 50‑year CHPP and installed a decentralized system—over 300 natural‑gas boilers across 120+ facilities, four new boiler plants, more than eight miles of gas lines, substation upgrades and SCADA integration—on budget and schedule. The Ameresco project provided 5.6 MW of capacity and achieved annual energy savings of over 1 million MMBtu, reduced roughly 222,765 tons of CO2 per year (equivalent to removing 39,625 cars), and included long‑term performance guarantees.

Elmendorf Air Force Base