Lucchino Visits Native American Solar Power Corp. during Albuquerque Navy Week

By Lt. Cmdr. John Ferrari, Navy Office of Community Outreach

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (NNS) -- Carla Lucchino, the Secretary of the Navy's senior career civilian advisor, kicked off her Albuquerque Navy Week outreach events, Oct. 3, with a visit to Sacred Power Corporation, the nation's only Native American owned solar power fabricator and distributor.

Lucchino and Sacred Power executives and engineers discussed innovative energy technologies and the Navy's energy priorities to include a commitment to renewable energy sources.

"Energy initiatives will save lives on the battlefield," said Lucchino. "The Navy's leadership in this arena will help prevent or even win wars.

"Every $1 increase in the price per barrel of oil results in $30 million in unplanned cost increases for the Navy," said Lucchino, noting that those unplanned costs divert funds from weapons, training and operations.

The Navy is exploring portable renewable energy sources for both deployed forces operating away from reliable power grids and for potential use in humanitarian missions.

Sacred Power holds several patented designs for solar power components, including a stand-alone hybrid generator for use in extremely remote locations.

Owner Dave Melton is a member of the Laguna Pueblo, one of the 20 tribes of Pueblo Indians in New Mexico and Colorado.

"We are able to use this generator right now for Native American homes who otherwise would be keeping their food in an ice chest while their children do their homework by a kerosene lamp," said co-owner Odes Armijo-Caster.

Lucchino also discussed the Navy's importance to Albuquerque and companies like Sacred Power as, "America's away team." She highlighted the growing importance of the world's waterways by noting the 70-80-90 Rule: 70 percent of the world's surface is covered by water, 80 percent of the world's population lives near the ocean and 90 percent of all international trade travels by sea.

In a world in which the next threat America may face is unpredictable, the Navy serves as America's away team, working to deter or neutralize threats before they reach our shores, added Lucchino.

Navy Weeks are designed to showcase the investment Americans have made in their Navy as a global force for good and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

Albuquerque Navy Week continues through Oct. 9. For more information, visit navyweek.org/albuquerque2011.

For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach, visit navy.mil/local/navco.