Department of Defense Energy Program
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| Department of Defense Energy Program | |
|---|---|
| Name | Department of Defense Energy Program |
| Agency type | Program |
| Formed | 2000s |
| Jurisdiction | United States |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia |
| Parent agency | Department of Defense |
Department of Defense Energy Program
The Department of Defense Energy Program coordinates United States Department of Defense efforts to manage energy use across United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Space Force. The program interfaces with federal actors such as the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration, and with legislative bodies including the United States Congress and committees like the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. It aligns with national strategies emanating from offices such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the White House.
Overview
The program provides enterprise-wide guidance spanning installation energy, operational energy, and contingency energy for services including United States Special Operations Command and commands such as United States Northern Command, United States Central Command, and United States Indo-Pacific Command. It manages interactions with standards bodies like the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and procurement frameworks such as the Federal Acquisition Regulation while coordinating with agencies involved in finance and development including the Department of Treasury and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
History
Origins trace to energy security concerns after events like the 1990–1991 Gulf War and after attacks on September 11 attacks which prompted policy responses championed in reports from think tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Rand Corporation. Legislative milestones include acts debated in the United States Congress and directives issued by secretaries such as Donald Rumsfeld and Leon Panetta, later implemented under leaders like Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter. Partnerships developed with research institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and national laboratories such as Sandia National Laboratories and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Objectives and Strategic Priorities
Primary objectives link to official guidance from the Quadrennial Defense Review and the National Security Strategy, emphasizing resilience for installations such as Fort Bragg, Naval Station Norfolk, and Edwards Air Force Base. Priorities include energy assurance for operations in theaters like Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, reduction of fossil fuel dependence in platforms like M1 Abrams tanks and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, and integration with climate-related efforts referenced by entities like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Programs and Initiatives
Initiatives include installation energy programs on bases such as Joint Base Lewis–McChord and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, microgrid pilots with partners like Lockheed Martin and General Electric, and fuel efficiency projects for platforms produced by contractors like General Dynamics and Boeing. The program administers incentive mechanisms similar to those used by the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office and partners with finance instruments from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for allied cooperation. Notable efforts coordinate with international partners including NATO members and bilateral partners such as Australia and Japan.
Infrastructure and Facilities
Facility upgrades affect ranges and installations such as White Sands Missile Range, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and Eglin Air Force Base. Work includes electrical resilience projects linking to utilities regulated by bodies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and transmission initiatives that intersect with regional organizations such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. Infrastructure modernization often uses construction firms and integrators including Bechtel Corporation and Fluor Corporation.
Research, Development, and Innovation
R&D collaborations involve laboratories such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and university consortia including Georgia Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. Areas of innovation include alternative fuels tested against aviation platforms like the KC-135 Stratotanker and propulsion systems researched in programs linked to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and procurement offices in Naval Sea Systems Command. Technology transfer and commercialization have been pursued with agencies such as the Small Business Administration and companies from the Silicon Valley ecosystem.
Challenges and Policy Issues
Challenges involve coordination with institutional actors including the Office of Management and Budget, legal constraints under statutes like the Buy American Act, and supply-chain vulnerabilities traced to regions such as South China Sea shipping routes. Policy issues include balancing readiness requirements for forces engaged in regions like Horn of Africa with commitments to multilateral environmental accords such as the Paris Agreement, and reconciling procurement cycles of platforms like Arleigh Burke-class destroyer with rapid advances from private-sector innovators including Tesla, Inc. and renewable developers.