.jpg) The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is set to spend millions on a new, more efficient cogeneration power system for their FoxWoods Resort Casino. The $34 million project is expected to provide 60% of the tribes energy needs while heating and cooling the 4,700,000 sq ft casino. The system is designed to help ease the demand on regional power grids as well as save them an estimated $24 million annually in energy costs. Cogeneration systems are also considered to be better for the environment. They work more efficiently by capturing excess heat that would usually go to waste. As a form of energy recycling this heat is used to warm up buildings or in some cases to heat up water. Since these types of power plants can be up to 34% more efficent then a regular plant they require less fuel to produce the same amount of useful energy. This means less emmissions and harmful effects on the environment. “It just made sense in terms of value and the environment,’’ said Charlene Jones chairwoman of the tribe’s utilities authority. She was proud to point out that the entire system should pay for it’s self in only three years. “It’s a way of going green, though it’s not totally green like wind or solar power - it’s light green,’’ said North East Utilities sales manager Mike Collins. The Mashantuckets’ cogeneration system will be one of the five largest cogeneration systems in the state. The eastern Conneticut tribe plans to start testing out the system this spring. If everything goes according to plan it should be up and running by june just in time to meet the extra energy costs of the summer.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed