Commissioners discuss jet-engine generators and load testing for backup power; exploratory only

County officials discussed exploratory options to improve backup power, including repurposed jet-engine generator systems that would run on natural gas and provide near-instantaneous startup.

A member of the commission (identified in the transcript as Speaker 3) said they had researched backup power and spoken with a Farmington company that repurposes jet engines for stationary power. The speaker said the company recommended load tests and suggested installing two units so one could back up the other if one fails. The speaker described the engines as recycled aircraft units that can be cost effective and reduce the number of conventional generators and related maintenance.

Doug (staff member) responded with technical and procurement context: he said life-safety generators are required by law to start instantly and come online within 10 seconds, while backup generators have a 15-second startup and 30 seconds to come online. He said county vendors and utilities (Eversource, NextEra) could have electrical-survey information and that staff would seek load data from the vendor and from utility procurement records. The transcript records an exploratory discussion but does not record a motion authorizing funds for load tests or for purchase; one speaker asked whether a motion was needed to spend money to get load tests, but no formal motion or vote appears in the transcript.

Commissioners did not record a decision to fund testing or to select a vendor during the portion of the meeting in the transcript. Staff said they would follow up to collect load data and vendor information for future consideration.