Naval Station Everett and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest held an energy roundtable, Feb. 14, with officials from several different establishments in the local community including Washington State University (WSU), Mithun Architects, and more. Officials from different political offices in the state were also in attendance to show their support for energy efficiency.

“We go where we are needed and we decisively accomplish our mission, whatever that might be,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus during a Naval Energy Forum in McLean, Va. Oct. 14, 2009. “We must be no less bold in our thinking when it comes to energy reform, no less willing to embrace risk.”

Mabus has put an extra emphasis in ‘going green’ for the past couple years. Navy Region Northwest, especially Naval Station Everett, has embraced this challenge and is continuously working towards greater energy efficiency.

“When we visited Chief of Naval Operations I mentioned to him that I thought Everett would be an ideal location to highlight this whole concept, to have this be the first carbon neutral base in all of the world,” said Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.

“The Navy wants to learn from you,” said Stephanson, addressing the crowd at the meeting. “So as we learn about what you do in your field, the Navy is going to pay very close attention to see if what you do has application for what they want to do.“

During the event officials discussed the ways their particular businesses are ‘going green’ and gave their suggestions as to how the Navy can become more energy efficient. All of the suggestions corresponded to at least one of five targets Mabus gave the Navy and Marine Corps in 2009.

Those five targets are:

1. By 2020, half of energy from alternative sources.

2. By 2020, net-zero annual energy consumption.

3. By 2016, ships powered by alternative fuel

4. By 2020, all electric transportation fleet.

5. Effective immediately, contracts requiring sustainable practices.

All of the speakers gave different examples of ways they are applying these targets and these examples were individually discussed by the crowd.

According to Christopher Floro, a regional program director for Navy Region Northwest, the Navy in the Northwest has been making their own efforts and achieving their own great success in ‘going green’. At a four and half percent average the region is ahead of the three percent mandated reduction in consumption per year and is also ahead of the target in integrating solid waste management.

Of course they still face many challenges such as getting fifty percent of all their energy sources from alternative fuels.

“It’s good to have a challenge, it’s good for us to be aiming towards high goals,” said Floro.