Energy and defense departments announce agreement to enhance cooperation on clean energy and strengthen energy security

Monday, 02 August 2010 15:45

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At a White House Forum on Energy Security today, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate clean energy innovation and enhance national energy security. America's military pays a high price in terms of added cost, risk of life, and lost operational flexibility in order to deliver fuel supplies to our forces in combat. Both agencies are committed to reducing these vulnerabilities through improved efficiencies and displacement of fossil fuels through on-site renewable power generation. "The Department of Energy and the Department of Defense's shared vision of a safe, secure energy future has provided us with a strong foundation to work together on energy issues," said Deputy Secretary Poneman. "Working together, we can speed the transition to a clean energy economy, while helping protect our troops. Building a new energy future is the right thing to do to strengthen our national security, to promote economic prosperity, and to improve our environment. It is also the right thing to do for our men and women in uniform."

The MOU, signed by Deputy Secretary Poneman and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn, covers efforts in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, fossil fuels, alternative fuels, efficient transportation technologies and fueling infrastructure, grid security, smart grid, storage, waste-to-energy, basic science research, mobile/deployable power, small modular reactor nuclear energy, and related areas.

The Department of Defense aims to speed innovative energy and conservation technologies from laboratories to military end users, and it uses military installations as a test bed to demonstrate and create a market for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The Department of Energy is the lead Federal agency responsible for the development and deployment of advanced energy technologies, yet the Department of Defense will need to invest in many of these same energy technologies as well as other energy technologies which may be unique to the Department of Defense's operational requirements. Partnering with the Department of Defense provides the Department of Energy the opportunity to accelerate the deployment of its technologies and expertise to help address the critical economic and energy security needs of the United States and to promote scientific and technological innovation.

This MOU (PDF - 329 kb) builds on already strong cooperation between the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, and will broaden collaboration on clean energy technology research, development, and demonstration.