First Wind, an independent U.S.-based renewable energy company, has been selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, to compete for opportunities to supply wind energy to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) from projects developed at or near DoD facilities. This announcement from the DoD comes as the third in a series of four groups of renewable energy contracts that will be worth $7 billion and will support the DoD’s renewable energy initiatives.

“We are pleased to have been chosen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Defense to help them achieve their energy and sustainability goals,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. “The Huntsville Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) and establishment of the Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF) streamlined the contracting process, and First Wind is eager for the opportunity to bid on projects that will deliver cost-effective clean energy to military facilities throughout the United States.”

As the largest energy consumer in the United States, the DoD has also announced MATOC contracts with solar and geothermal groups in an effort to increase energy security and the use of on-site renewable resources. By utilizing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), DoD will purchase renewable energy at long-term fixed prices and avoid the expense of financing, building and operating generation facilities.