Ameresco Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) and Velarium Energy completed a $30 million energy efficiency project at Fort Polk, Louisiana, installing geothermal systems across military family housing.

The Energy Savings Performance Contract modernized 3,600 homes operated by Corvias, making Fort Polk the first U.S. Army installation to deploy geothermal systems across all residential units. The project is projected to reduce annual electrical consumption by 30% and generate $2.6 million in annual utility and operational cost savings.

The upgrades replaced traditional HVAC systems with Oklahoma-manufactured ground-source heat pump technology. Additional improvements included advanced metering systems, high-efficiency LED lighting, and optimized hot water systems utilizing geothermal technology.

"Fort Polk is now the first Army installation to complete a full geothermal transition across all homes, strengthening resiliency, and long-term sustainability," said Nicole Bulgarino, President of Federal Solutions and Power Infrastructure at Ameresco.

Pablo Varela, Executive Vice President at Velarium Energy, stated the project demonstrates collaboration between public and private partners to deliver energy solutions that can be replicated across military installations nationwide.

Fort Polk spans more than 198,000 acres and serves as a U.S. Army combat training center. The installation houses nearly 4,000 military families across its residential portfolio.

Geothermal systems use stable underground temperatures to heat and cool buildings more efficiently than conventional HVAC systems. The technology is designed to reduce maintenance requirements while improving long-term reliability and energy resilience.

The project information was provided in a company press release statement.