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In an ambitious stride towards sustainability and clean energy, NASA’s Stennis Space Center has been awarded a significant grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The $1.95 million grant is part of the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) Program and it aims to transform the center's main administration building into a self-sufficient hub of renewable energy.
Positioned near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, NASA Stennis is setting a precedent for energy innovation within federal facilities. The grant will enable the center to install a sprawling four-acre solar panel array capable of generating up to 1 megawatt of electricity. This substantial clean energy project will bolster the Stennis Space Center’s ongoing efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
NASA Stennis Director, John Bailey, highlighted the project's significance in contributing to NASA's broader objective of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. With the demand for cleaner energy growing, the installation of the solar panel array is timely and aligns with NASA's environmental stewardship goals.
It is worth noting that the AFFECT Program plays a critical role in the federal government's pursuit to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across all federal buildings by 2045. Remarkably, NASA Stennis stands as the lone Mississippi agency recipient amidst a competitive funding round whereby $149.87 million was awarded to various projects.
This initiative further propels a pre-existing $1.65 million energy conservation project at NASA Stennis that aims at enhancing overall energy efficiency. The generated solar electricity will power on-site facilities and systems, including emergency backup power—a move lauded by NASA Stennis Sustainability Team Lead Alvin Askew for its potential future benefits.
Michael Tubbs, NASA Stennis Center Operations Director, expressed pride in the team’s dedication to meet sustainability goals which laid a sound foundation for the grant acquisition. The NASA Stennis proposal emerged from a collaborative review process involving several NASA centers, leading to the successful grant award from the DOE.
The administration building at NASA Stennis, constructed in 2008, is a model of modern, sustainable design. As a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) facility, it was already operating with net-zero emissions, demonstrating the feasibility and value of adopting renewable energy solutions in large-scale operations.