Evaluation of Future Strategic and Energy Efficient Options for the U.S. Capitol Power Plant (2009) / Chapter Skim
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2 Evaluation of Consultant-Generated Options
2 Evaluation of Consultant-Generated Options
Pages 11-20
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From page 11... ...
The challenges for the AOC staff include providing critical utilities services with a partially obsolete infrastructure; responding to its various and diverse constituents; and the sheer magnitude of the changes required to move the infrastructure into the new energy environment of the 21st century. The staff has recognized the many constraints on the CPP and has focused its efforts on providing highly reliable utility services to the U.S.
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From page 12... ...
In addition, in response to a request by the committee, a thorough CO2 accounting was added to the 70% Report. In the 70% Report, consideration has been given to viable energy distribution tunnel rehabilitation and steam and chilled water line routing options, as well as options for multiple central plants and stand-alone equipment located closer to the buildings being served.
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From page 13... ...
In any case, a holistic system approach would encompass, among possible others, the following elements: • A mission statement -- a description of the AOC's mission with respect to providing heating, cooling and, potentially, electricity to the U.S. Capitol Complex, and its role in balancing priorities among the many possible performance criteria for the CPP; • A vision statement -- how the AOC intends to meet its intended mission; • A clear statement of criteria and priorities that are to be satisfied, such as reliability and security, providing utilities services to new buildings, increased energy efficiency, avoidance of obsolescence, satisfaction of regulatory requirements, reduction of environmental impacts, contribution to the Green the Capitol Initiative, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; • A system optimization methodology, formal or informal, for resolving potentially conflicting criteria in the selection of the CPP and distribution system option; 13
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From page 14... ...
Acceptance of Current Constraints as Immutable The committee's evaluation of the 70% Report led it to infer that the report is based on the assumption that all current constraints concerning the project are immutably fixed, as opposed to being amenable to review, negotiation, and modification that may result in improved solutions. Some of the constraints listed below may indeed be immutable, as for example the insistence on well-proven, mature technologies in view of the criticality of providing reliable service to the U.S.
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From page 15... ...
The report appears to take all current relationships within the AOC, other than the CPP and the 17 jurisdictions served by the CPP that constitute the larger Capitol community, as permanently binding. An alternate approach favored by the committee is to view the current project and the current emphasis on energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as cost constraints, as an opportunity to explore fully the potential effect of modified or redefined relationships on elements such as: • Increased coordination with the participants listed in the U.S.
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From page 16... ...
Capitol Complex served by the CPP and the distribution system. The committee notes that: • Because metering of actual steam and chilled water is being upgraded, current individual building demands are calculated on a percentage of square foot basis; • Projected future demands will require further evaluation considering all the known requirements on the system and, specifically, the statutory mandates for energy consumption reduction; • A 20 percent increase is required for future steam and chilled water demands for renovated space based on current building codes and increased air changes above current standards; and • 1 Projected global climate change impacts are not considered in the report.
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From page 17... ...
This information includes the current and future energy demands of the U.S. Capitol Complex; the fuel characteristics and current and future fuel costs for the CPP; utilities supplied by outside entities (electricity provided by PEPCO and water provided by the District of Columbia Water and Sewage Authority (W ASA)
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From page 18... ...
The 70% Report provides a breakdown of future steam, chilled water, electricity, and domestic water consumption. In addition, the 70% Report identifies when future demands for steam and chilled water will exceed current CPP capacity (including current planned modifications)
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From page 19... ...
Evaluate Likelihood That Options Would Meet Regulatory Requirements Based on the results of a more comprehensive environmental evaluation, the AOC and its consultants should determine the "permittability" of the options, the potential lead time required for permitting, and the potential hurdles to permitting, including potential community opposition to noise, traffic, visual, direct environmental, and other impacts from each option. Options such as waste-to-energy or coal gasification would likely result in significant public opposition and possibly result in a permitting timeline extending several years, with less than 100 percent certainty that permits would ever be issued.
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From page 20... ...
Given the uncertainty in future greenhouse gas regulations and the potential variability in future fuel prices (either as a result of the inherent variability in fuel prices or as the result of a carbon tax) , the committee suggests that the lifecycle costs include an analysis of sensitivity to variations in CO allowances and fuel prices.
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