Follow-Up: Army Breaks Ground on $27 Million Energy and Water Microgrid at White Sands Missile Range, Built for 14 Days Off the Grid
The U.S. Army broke ground on November 10 on a $27 million energy and
water microgrid at Stallion Base Camp, in the northern part of White
Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The Army published news of the
groundbreaking ceremony on its website on November 13.
Background: on November 3, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District awarded the construction contract for the microgrid to AACON-RavenVolt JV, a joint venture of AACON General Contractors and RavenVolt, under a design combining solar generation, battery storage and on-site backup generation; the contract value was not disclosed at the time. The groundbreaking marks the start of construction, with the cost and configuration now made public.
The microgrid is funded through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'
Energy Resiliency and Conservation Investment Program. The project
includes a 600-kilowatt photovoltaic carport, a 700-kilowatt generator
and a 600-kilowatt battery storage system, along with new distribution
lines, fiber-optic cable and security measures.
By design, the completed microgrid will let the camp's critical
facilities run independently of the commercial power grid for 14
continuous days, meeting the Army's standard energy-resilience
requirement for critical infrastructure. The project forms part of the
Army's Project Fortress, which aims to keep installations operating
through extreme weather and grid failures.
Colonel Michael Lueckeman, the White Sands garrison commander, said at
the ceremony: "This project is about mission assurance." He added: "At
White Sands, we don't have the luxury of hoping critical
infrastructure works when we need it." Lieutenant Colonel Brian
Williams, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers' Albuquerque
District, and installation energy manager Craig Collins also attended.
White Sands is one of the U.S. military's largest missile test ranges.
A microgrid completed in 2025 on the southern range already powers
four groundwater wells; once the northern camp project is finished,
critical facilities at both ends of the range will be able to operate
on independent power.
Source: U.S. Army
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国新墨西哥州白沙导弹靶场（资料图）。美国陆军发布，公共领域。 / Photo: White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (file photo). U.S. Army photo, public domain.
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- 2026-11-14Follow-Up: Army Breaks Ground on $27 Million Energy and Water Microgrid at White Sands Missile Range, Built for 14 Days Off the GridThis story
