Ameresco Partners with Federal Bureau of Prisons on Energy and Water Project in Illinois

Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and energy infrastructure company, today announced the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons has entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Ameresco to implement energy and water conservation measures at the Administrative United States Penitentiary Thomson (AUSP Thomson), located in Thomson, Illinois. The ESPC, valued at $18.9 million, is designed to achieve more than $33 million in energy and water savings during the performance period of the contract.

“Ameresco is proud to partner with the Federal Bureau of Prisons on implementing this budget-neutral energy project at AUSP Thomson,” said Nicole A. Bulgarino, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Federal Solutions, Ameresco. “Under the ESPC, the prison will receive cost-effective facility energy improvements which will contribute to recurring reductions in utility and operational costs.”

The ESPC project will upgrade AUSP Thomson’s electrical and mechanical systems to increase operating efficiencies. More than 613,000 square feet of correctional buildings and facilities will be addressed by the energy improvements. The project will reduce energy consumption by 53 percent from the pre-upgrade modeled baseline.

Across 13 main buildings, Ameresco will install interior and exterior light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixtures, heating and cooling system improvements, building automation system control upgrades, new high efficiency transformers, and high efficiency water fixtures. Ameresco will also construct one megawatt of ground-mount solar photovoltaic arrays to displace retail electric consumption.

The project will reduce water consumption by more than 32 million gallons annually through domestic water conservation measures across inmate housing. Ameresco will replace existing higher flow toilets, showers and faucets with lower flow models to reduce water consumption at the prison by 35 percent. As a result of the project, AUSP Thomson is expected to save more than $1 million annually in energy and water costs.

The ESPC project at AUSP Thomson will support the Federal Bureau of Prisons in improving the operating efficiencies of its utility and water systems. An ESPC is an alternative contracting mechanism that utilizes private-sector financing to implement comprehensive energy savings projects without relying on federal appropriations.