CEL signs deal with WARB

Date: 3/24/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- The announcement that Chicopee Electric Light (CEL) has signed a contract with the federal government to own, operate and maintain the electrical distribution system at Westover Air Reserve Base (WARB) is part of a larger effort to maximize the nation's air reserve base as a local economic engine, according to 439th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Robert Swain and Mayor Michael Bissonnette.

The two men, and Jeffrey Cady, CEL's manager, made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday.

The contract "represents a further partnership between the city of Chicopee and the men and women at WARB," Bissonnette said.

Cady explained that CEL has provided WARB's electricity, but the Department of Defense (DOD) maintained the distribution system. In 2003, in an effort to privatize certain services, the DOD issued a Request for Proposals and CEL applied. Due to budget cutbacks, the process took five years, with the announcement coming in 2008 that CEL had been accepted.

The 50-year contract began Jan. 1 and calls for the upgrading of the base's electrical system over a six year period at a cost of $2.5 million paid by DOD.

"It was a long process to get the contract completed, but in the end I think it is very favorable to CEL and WARB. When the conversion is completed it will provide more reliability to the base and to our customers since distribution issues at the base affect them," Cady said.

Bissonnette noted that while other Air Force facilities are seeing cutbacks, WARB is being selected for improvements. He said a new Naval Reserve facility that will be breaking ground in May would provide more construction jobs and there will be over 1,000 new full-time and part-time positions opening at the base.

WARB will also be posting projects upon which local vendors can bid on the city's Web site, Bissonnette added.

Swain said he anticipates additional economic development coming over the next 10 years. He sees part of the base's role as "a local economy driver."

Bissonnette added, "I look forward to decades of future partnership."