Issues & Policy
Overview
Trusted Energy Partnerships
Long-Standing Partnerships Provide an Energy Resilient and Secure Future
Recognizing that the DoD relies on commercial power to perform its important missions within the U.S., and that the homeland U.S. is no longer a safe sanctuary; EEI members are uniquely qualified to collaborate with the military by enhancing energy resiliency and reliability with “inside the fence” solutions.
Electric companies have a long, successful history of working together with the federal government and military on energy resiliency solutions. As new threats and vulnerabilities to infrastructure emerge, it is critical for the DoD and federal government to strengthen their relationships with their electric companies to resolve challenges inside and outside of their control. Key benefits of closely collaborating with electric companies:
- Long-standing, trusted relationships with our military customers.
- Expertise in identifying and address energy reliability and resiliency challenges. Energy resiliency is in our DNA.
- Line-of-sight of surrounding supply infrastructure: thorough knowledge of electric systems that serve installations.
- Financial tools and authorizations that enables electric companies to fund comprehensive, holistic energy resiliency solutions.
One-Stop Shop - Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESC)
Authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, P.L. 102-486 (codified as 42 U.S.C. 8256), a Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) is a contract between a federal installation and a utility to undertake energy and water efficiency and renewable energy projects. The improvements made by the utility are paid for by the installation out of its cost savings. This allows agencies to implement energy improvements with no initial capital investment. The agency can save time and money by using this “one-stop-shop”. These partnerships will be even more important in the future as energy security concerns increase and federal budgets decrease. DoD installations can and should take advantage of these programs if their local utility offers them.
Company Highlights
Hawaiian Electric and the U.S. Army at Schofield Barracks
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and the U.S. Army partnered with the local government and state regulators on a comprehensive grid resiliency project at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. This triple-win project provides benefits to HECO, all customers on Oahu, and our nation’s security.
Learn MoreEl Paso Electric and the U.S. Air Force at Holloman AFB
El Paso Electric (EPE) collaborated with Holloman Air Force Base (AFB) and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to develop EPE’s first renewable energy project on a military installation. A key driver for the Air Force was gaining more diverse, resilient energy sources that can complement and enhance Holloman’s mission assurance plans. The project also meets its renewable energy goals.
Learn MoreArizona Public Service and the U.S. Marine Corps at MCAS Yuma
The U.S. Marine Corps partnered with Arizona Public Service (APS) on a rate-based 25-megawatt (MW) microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma. The microgrid provides reliable, backup power that enhances energy resiliency and security for MCAS Yuma and other APS customers.
Learn MoreDominion Energy & the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir
Dominion Energy leveraged their expertise and strong long-term relationships with Department of Defense installations to significantly improve the reliability, energy resiliency, and operations at Fort Belvoir using a Utilities Privatization (UP) contract. Dominion Energy currently has more than 10 UP contracts with military installations.
Learn MorePublic Service Company of Oklahoma and the U.S. Army at Fort Sill
Collaborating with the U.S. Army’s Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI), the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) entered into a land use agreement to develop a comprehensive energy resiliency project. Pending state regulatory approval, construction is expected to commence in 2021. The U.S. Army and PSO signed a lease in June 2020 that grants 81 acres of U.S. Army land for PSO to construct, own, operate, and maintain a 36 MW natural gas fired reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) power plant and up to a 14 MW solar array.
Learn MoreAdditional Resources
Staff Contacts
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Alexandra Young
Senior Manager, Department of Defense and Federal Customer Solutions
ayoung@eei.org
202-508-5159