Clean Energy EXPO 2024: National Security and Resilience

The 27th Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum was held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The event was hosted by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), with the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucuses serving as honorary co-hosts. It featured seven panels, including National Security and Resilience.

Highlights

Brendan Owens, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

• The Department of Defense (DOD) incorporates climate into its decision-making because it is vital to its ability to execute missions.
• Recent climate-related disasters have strained DOD resources and personnel, with resources being reallocated to disaster response instead of missions. Costs reach up to $10 billion for single events like the response to Typhoon Mawar in Guam. Between 2016 and 2021, the National Guard spent 14,000 personnel-days on wildfire response. This has escalated to 176,000 personnel-days since 2021, highlighting significant impacts on military training and readiness.
• In response to these challenges, DOD is investing in energy resilience by diversifying energy supplies, improving efficiency, and adapting infrastructure to climate risks such as rising sea levels and wildfires. This includes leveraging advancements in clean energy technologies to diversify supply and maintain operational readiness.
• Operational energy that runs planes, ships, and tanks represents 70% of DOD’s carbon footprint. The DOD supports innovative energy solutions through the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund and the Operational Energy Prototyping Fund, aimed at enhancing combat readiness and energy efficiency.

Swathi Veeravalli, Director of Climate Security and Adaptation, White House National Security Council (NSC)

• President Biden’s national security strategy emphasizes the urgent need for global cooperation to address climate challenges.
• Climate change impacts, even when localized, can have widespread effects on global supply chains and economic security. Local disruptions in energy, health, and food security can trigger significant global consequences, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies that address these interconnected challenges.
• To manage climate impacts and bolster resilience, the United States has developed a three-pronged approach: assessing climate-related threats; fostering integrated partnerships across federal, international, and private sectors; and investing in collective resilience.
• Investing in climate resilience, like early-warning systems, provides substantial long-term benefits. Such investments not only protect lives and livelihoods but also yield significant economic returns, thereby enhancing national security and stability in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Emma Stewart, Chief Power Grid Scientist and Research Strategist, Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

• In 2020, Idaho National Lab (INL) faced a critical situation with the SolarWinds cybersecurity breach, wildfires impacting infrastructure, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events underscored how climate change and national security are increasingly interconnected, with impacts on the country’s ability to secure and maintain critical infrastructure.
• INL operates large-scale power testing infrastructure, roughly the size of the country of Luxembourg. Utilities use this infrastructure, including large transmission lines, to test their equipment, helping them adopt secure and efficient solutions. Their goal is to ensure that infrastructure deployment is not only innovative but also secure.
• As the world advances towards renewable energy, challenges arise with securing power infrastructure and electronics. Many of these devices are vulnerable to cyber threats, and INL works with utilities on improving configurations and securing these technologies.
• Addressing climate change and cybersecurity requires global collaboration.

Jennifer Schafer-Soderman, Executive Director, Federal Performance Contracting Coalition (FPCC)

• The Federal Performance Contracting Coalition focuses on making federal buildings, military facilities, and courthouses more energy-efficient and resilient through performance contracting.
• Energy upgrades to buildings are funded through guaranteed energy savings, meaning there are no upfront costs for the federal customer. Instead, the savings on utility bills are used to pay back the investment.
• Efficiency directly contributes to resilience. As the United States moves towards clean energy, improving efficiency is crucial to reducing overall energy demand.
• Given DOD’s budget constraints, efficiency-driven savings can help fund necessary resilience upgrades. Performance contracting ensures that these upgrades are maintained effectively, avoiding issues seen with neglected systems from past initiatives. This method guarantees both performance and ongoing care for critical infrastructure.

Mike Sexton, Senior Policy Advisor for Cyber and Artificial Intelligence, Third Way

• The U.S. national security strategy emphasizes that leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial to maintain a competitive advantage. While the U.S. currently leads in AI development, particularly in frontier models, long-term success will depend on sustainable energy to support these advancements.
• As AI technology evolves, it will require substantial energy for its implementation and operation. While it is challenging to predict exact energy needs, forecasts anticipate significant demands for electricity and renewable energy to support a future where AI is integral to economic growth and innovation.
• Big technology companies are making commendable strides towards carbon neutrality and adopting clean energy to meet their increasing energy needs. Their leadership in this area is noteworthy and critical for a sustainable future.

Compiled by Lindsey Snyder and edited for clarity and length. This is not a transcript.

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