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Spending Green to Go Green

By Kristie Borges

| Monday, Jan 18, 2010 | Updated 6:30 PM EST

Getty Images

Jet engines and natural gas may soon power Foxwoods and everything else on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation's Reservation. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

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The old saying is, you’ve got to spend a little to save a little. Well in the case of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, they are spending millions to save millions, in energy.

The tribal nation will spend about $34 million on a new power system to generate electricity while heating and cooling Foxwoods Resort Casino, the Day of New London reports.

Two 10,300 horsepower jet engines will propel the system, which will convert natural gas into electricity and steam. According to The Day, the system is designed to produce 15 megawatts of power, easing demand on the regional power grid.

But wait, there’s more. This system should reduce the Casino’s $24 million a year electricity bill.

"It should pay for itself in three years," Charlene Jones told The Day. The former tribal councilor and chairwoman of the tribe's utilities authority cited projections that depend on fluctuations in fuel prices. "It just made sense in terms of value and the environment. We truly believe in green initiatives and in making this a greener campus that will run more efficiently."

The plan is to begin testing the system April 1, and put it online in June.