ADDITIONS-Continued that the electrical energy allotment was geared to construction program schedules under which delays were experienced. We can no longer count on savings from this source and must therefore request that the full amount of $100,000 now required, annually, for general annual repairs be provided under this allotment. We must maintain in good operating condition extensive steam generating equipment, consisting of such items as 7 large boilers, stokers, oil burners, fans, pumps, piping, dust collectors, ash-handling equipment; extensive refrigerating equipment, consisting of such items as 8 large compressors, 11 large pumps, 7 cooling towers, 7 fans; coal-handling equipment, consisting of such items as belt conveyors, car shakers, car thawers, 2 bulldozers, 2 trackmobile locomotives; auxiliary equipment, such as air compressors, ventiliating fans; steam tunnels extending from the Capitol Power Plant to the Government Printing Office, with branch extensions to the various buildings served on Capitol Hill-these tunnels containing more than 3 miles of steam lines and extensive chilled water lines, large valves, traps, expansion joints, pressure reducing valves; oil-handling equipment, tanks, pumps; control equipment, such as meters, automatic controllers, control valves, actuators, gages, thermometers; electrical equipment, such as motors up to 2,500 hp., starters, circuit breakers, transformers, control wiring and equipment, lighting and power systems; service equipment, such as water and air lines, sump pumps, plumbing, and heating. The Capitol Power Plant, including its steam and refrigeration distribution systems, contains equipment having an estimated replacement value of over $12.000,009. About two-thirds of this equipment is over 10 years old, resulting in the need for continually increasing maintenance and repair in order to insure uninterrupted service and decelerated depreciation, if the normal useful life of 30 years or more is to be realized for this substantial capital investment. Since 1965, under funds provided by Congress to meet expanded production requirements imposed upon the Capitol Power Plant due to an expanded building construction and improvement program on Capitol Hill, the refrigeration capacity of the plant has been increased by 75 percent and the steam generating capacity by 65 percent; fuel-handling and storage facilities have been installed for oil-fired boilers added at the plant; also, a 250,000gal. oil storage tank, transfer pumps, oil heaters, piping systems, and auxiliary items, representing an investment of $450,000. The cost of labor, materials, repair and replacement parts is constantly increasing and in view of the fact that the buildings occupied by the Congress and other components of the legislative branch are dependent upon the Capitol Power Plant for steam and chilled water supplies by the plant, it is urged that the general annual repairs allotment be increased by $15,000 for 1969 in order to insure adequate funds being available for maintenance and repair work necessary to keep the plant in dependable and uninterrupted operation 365 days a year. Stoker rehabilitation__. In 1967, a program, estimated to cost $135,000, was commenced for replacement of the spreader stoker in each of the 3 steam generators at the Capitol Power Plant. Each of these steam generators has a steam-generating capacity of 110,000-pounds per hour, is coal-fired, and was placed in operation in August 1954. During the period, 1954-67, when the stoker replacement program was commenced, each stoker had burned about 140,000 tons of coal during a period of 70,000 hours of operation. The average useful life of stoker grates varies from 10 to 15 years, depending upon the annual rate of combustion. Prolonged operation of aging grates invites danger of complete breakdown, results in lower operating efficiency, and creates tendency for air pollution. $10,0 For 1967, an allotment of $45,000 was provided for replacement of the stoker in 1 of the 3 steam generators. For 1968, an allotment of $50,000 was provided for replacement of the stoker in the second steam generator. These estimates were based on doing all the replacement work by contract. We have found it possible, however, to purchase the stokers and install them by use of our regular Capitol Power Plant personnel acting under supervision of a qualified representative of the manufacturer of the stokers. Through this means, we have been able to effect sufficient savings in the replacement of the first two stokers to purchase the stoker equipment for the final or third steam generator with our existing funds and to complete the installation of the third stoker through an additional appropriation of $10,000 for 1969, instead of an appropriation of $45,000 originally contemplated when the program was presented to the Appropriations Committee in 1967. The $10,000 requested for 1969 will complete the stoker replacement program. Fuel-increased from $466,000 to $488,000– The 1968 appropriation for fuel is based on 33,000 tons of coal at $9.40 per ton and 2,600,000 gals. of fuel oil at 6 cents per gal. The estimate for fuel for 1969 is based on 33,000 tons of coal at $10.07 per ton and 2,600,000 gals. of fuel oil at 6 cents per gal. The increase of $22,000 requested for 1969 is to meet the increased cost of coal per ton required for next year. The contract now in effect, provides for a cost of $10.22 per ton. Coal for the Capitol Power Plant is purchased through the Federal Bureau of Supply, General Services Administration, under authority of Public Law 152, 81st Congress, as amended. Bids for fuel are received in April or May each year by that Bureau and the fuel is contracted for with a provision in the contract allowing for changes in wage and freight rates. The coal now being used at the plant comes from the Guyan Eagle Mine No. 5 and Coal Mountain No. 12, both of the Island Creek Coal Sales Co., shipped from Coal Mountain and Kelly, W. Va. It is a nut and slack coal. The fuel oil required for the plant is also purchased through supply schedules of the fuel branch, General Services Administration. At present, 70 percent of the total steam output is produced by coal-fired equipment and 30 percent by oil-burning steam generators. Total estimate for 1969_. $22,000 2,927, 000 Mr. YATES. I will ask you to take up the items of increase. You can skip over the so-called mandatory items on pages 116 and 117. INCREASE FOR PURCHASE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY Mr. HENLOCK. The first item appears on page 118 of the justification, under the purchase of electrical energy. There has been no increase in the unit cost of kilowatt hours, but there has been a gradual increase in consumption of electrical energy. Our annual allotment for the past 3 years has been $1,355,000 for the purchase of electrical energy for all our buildings and grounds, from the local public utility company. We estimate such purchase will cost $1.4 million for the fiscal year 1969. Last year we came within $23,525 of our appropriation for this item, and this year consumption is growing at a rate of almost $90,000 over the original estimate. Mr. YATES. There is nothing you can do about that, is there? Mr. HENLOCK. No, sir; it is a gradual increase resulting from greater consumption due to added business machines, computer equipment, and other things of that nature. Mr. RUBEL. Normally I would expect an annual increase of about 3 percent. This year, for the first 7 months of the 1968 fiscal year as compared to the first 7 months of the 1967 fiscal year, the average increase for all buildings has been 6.65 percent. There is no consistency among the buildings in their individual increases. Mr. YATES. This is an increase in usage rather than in rate? Mr. YATES. Is something wrong with the meters? Mr. RUBEL. I am sure not. Certainly, there could not be something wrong with all the meters. The Longworth Building has gone up 9 percent. The Cannon Building has increased 17 percent. Some of this increase is due to the remodeling program, and more power consumed by the remodeled air-conditioning system. The Rayburn Building has gone up 11 percent. Some of that increase is attributable to the new underground garages. The Capitol Power Plant, which is the largest consumer, only went up 5 percent. The main building of the Library of Congress has gone up 10 percent, while the Annex Building of the Library of Congress has gone up only 1 percent. I cannot submit a precise reason for these variations, but they are being recorded on the meters. Mr. YATES. Probably the maintenance crews are not the same ones you had last year and maybe they leave the lights on longer. Mr. RUBEL. That may be. This is the first time in 10 years I have underestimated the kilowatt-hour consumption for all the buildings on Capitol Hill. Mr. YATES. What is the increase in cost because of the increase in use? Mr. RUBEL. You mean for this year? Mr. YATES. Yes. Mr. RUBEL. It may exceed the estimate prepared in September 1966 by $94,000. Our bills lag about 2 months from the date the meters are read. Consequently I have the bills only for the first 7 months of the current fiscal year. If we are fortunate enough to have cool weather in April, May, and June, the $94,000 estimated excess may be cut considerably because the major power consumption occurs during the cooling season months. But looking at the situation pessimistically, it appears that we may exceed the estimated cost by $94,000. That is about 7 percent over the estimated total of $1,355,000. Mr. ANDREWS. Didn't you start last year keeping the air conditioning on 24 hours a day? Mr. RUBEL. Yes, sir, but I had taken that program into consideration. Perhaps I underestimated its potential. Mr. ANDREWS. How much of the increase do you think that accounts for? Mr. RUBEL. Based on the figures I see now it could amount to half of this 6-percent increase. Mr. ANDREWS. If I remember correctly we were told it would not add too much to the cost because if you kept the air conditioning on 24 hours a day you would not have to start it up in the morning. Mr. ANDREWS of North Dakota. I was in my office at 9:30 last night and it was off. Mr. RUBEL. At this time of the year we have been shutting down the refrigeration plant at 11 o'clock. We do not need the refrigeration during the night because the air temperature drops and is low enough to cool the buildings if the fans are running. Mr. ANDREWs. Off the record. (Discussion off the record.) Mr. HENLOCK. Actually, that is about a 3-percent increase in the total amount of energy we are estimating for next year. As Mr. Yates indicated, it is an item that has to be met because we must have light and power. Mr. ANDREWS. That is for sure. Mr. HENLOCK. And we know additional business machines and other equipment are being authorized from year to year, to meet increased working requirements in Members' and other offices on Capitol Hill. Mr. YATES. We have enough power. What we need is more light. SERVICING THE PROPOSED MADISON MEMORIAL LIBRARY Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Stewart, do you have any estimates of what it will cost to expand the Capitol Power Plant to furnish its services to the Madison Memorial Library Building? Mr. RUBEL. Mr. Chairman, that has been a subject of serious thought. Consequently I have a prepared statement which may be of interest to the committee with respect to future expansion generally. Construction of the Madison Memorial Library Building will result in a 40-percent increase in the refrigeration load to be supplied by the Capitol Power Plant. Obviously, it would be imperative to pursue both projects simultaneously on a time schedule that would assure the completion of the Power Plant additions and modifications at least 6 months in advance of building occupancy. This leadtime is necessary to permit machinery adjustments, operational tests, and personnel training. As a corollary to the necessary plant additions and modifications, extensive changes and additions would have to be made in the underground chilled water distribution system. Since no detailed engineering study has been made of the many ramifications involved, it would be presumptuous on my part to predict, without significant reservations, the cost of these improvements. Based solely on past experience with similar projects, I can say with some degree of selfassurance that the total cost of the plant and distribution system expansions will range between $6 and $8 million. If I may be permitted to expound a few moments on some of the ramifications involved, my discourse may generate some pertinent questions which I will attempt to answer to the satisfaction of the chairman and members of the committee. In my 18 years' association with the Capitol Power Plant, I have taken an active part in expanding its refrigerating capacity from 4,800 tons in 1950, to 8,800 tons in 1956, and again to 15,400 tons in 1962. There are now eight refrigeration machines in the plant, six rated at 2,200 tons each, and two rated at 1,100 tons each. With this capacity, the plant is capable of satisfying the present demand of 13,400 tons-with one of the 2,200-ton machines inoperative. In other words, we presently have a standby reserve of 2,000 tons, or 13 percent of the installed capacity. I can foresee the possible development of new loads within the next 10 years totaling 9,300 tons. These new loads are 5,300 tons for the Madison Memorial Library Building, 1,500 tons for the extension of the New Senate Office Building, 1,000 tons for the extension of the West Front of the Capitol, and at least 1,500 tons for additional facilities for the House of Representatives. Therefore, we are confronted with some critical long-range decisions with regard to the next expansion of the refrigeration plant and its associated chilled water distribution system. Previously I mentioned that the Madison Memorial Library Building alone would add a load of 5,300 tons, whereas our present standby reserve is only 2,000 tons. Obviously, some capacity must be added as soon as the Madison Memorial Library Building is financed to preclude an imminent deficiency of 3,300 tons, and no standby reserve. The magnitude of the capacity to be added with the advent of the Madison Memorial Library Building is related to the calculated risk to be assumed by the designing engineers. In my judgment, it would be prudent always to maintain a minimum of 2,000 tons standby reserve to allow for machinery failures. Based on this premise, we must proceed to add not less than 5,300-ton capacity as soon as the Madison Memorial Library Building is funded. At the present time, the largest machine available from the industry is 5,000 tons. To limit the expansion of the plant to the installation of a single 5,000-ton machine would not be good engineering judgment for the simple reason that the accidental loss of that machine, during the peak of the cooling season, would result in an immediate deficiency of 5,500 tons, with consequent discomfort to the building occupants. When translated into laymen's language, I am saying that the installation of a single 5,000-ton machine is the equivalent of putting too many eggs in one basket. Obviously, it would be more prudent to install 3 smaller machines so that the accidental loss of one of the three new machines would not result in a significant depreciation of overall capacity. Unfortunately, however, the limited floorspace remaining in the plant permits the installation of only two machines, each having a maximum capacity of 5,000 tons. Accepting the limitation of floorspace previously mentioned, then the question that must be resolved is whether the next expansion should be restricted to the installation of one 5,000-ton machine and take the calculated risk that accidental machinery failures will not occur during the peak of the cooling season. The cost of this limited installation could be in the order of $6 million. In view of the fact that there are foreseeable additional loads totaling 4,000 tons over and above the Madison Memorial Library Building requirements, it would be my recommendation to the Congress to proceed now with the installation of two 5,000-ton machines of identical design at a cost of about $8 million. No final decision should be made until a comprehensive engineering and economic study is completed by a firm of reputable consulting engineers. The fee for these services alone would be $35,000 to $40,000. This study should commence as soon as the Madison Memorial Library Building is totally or partially funded by the Congress. Mr. ANDREWS. That is a well-written statement. Mr. RUBEL. Thank you, sir. |