Air Force officials last week cut the ribbon on a new $7.4 million energy-producing device at Hurlburt Field, Fla., ceremoniously marking the start of its operations. The plasma waste-to-energy system will be able to convert 4,200 tons of Hurlburt’s garbage annually to usable energy. “This is history in the making,” said Terry Yonkers, USAF’s assistant for installations, environment, and logistics, who was on hand for the April 26 ceremony. “This is the first waste-to-energy project of this technology to go into an air base.” The system uses the intense heat of plasma to convert waste into a synthetic gas that provides energy. The system is transportable and could operate at deployed US military locations. The project started in 2007; it was the brainchild of Ron Omley, Air Force Special Operation Command’s environmental chief. Pyrogenesis of Montreal, Canada, developed it. (Hurlburt report by Ashley M. Wright)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.
