Army needs appropriated funds to ensure energy security

February 5, 2016

U.S. Army

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 5, 2016) -- While the Army is making great progress meeting its energy efficiency and renewable energy targets, this is not enough, said Richard Kidd, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for energy and sustainability.

 What the Army needs are funds allocated specifically for energy security to improve the resiliency of installations in the face of growing threats to the energy grid, said Kidd during a presentation on Capitol Hill, Feb. 3.

 Gaining energy security for some of the Army's most important installations requires an array of investments, like on-site power generation and micro-grids, where the return on investment is increased security, rather than cost savings.

 "Their return for the country is a ... security return," Kidd said. "What the DOD gets paid to do is security."

 Kidd was part of a panel of nine military officials from the four military services and DOD who spoke to senate staffers on Capitol Hill about energy-security matters.

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