U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Defense yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding during a White House forum to discuss clean energy in relation to national security.The MOU demonstrated a collaboration between the two departments to commit to fostering a clean-energy economy and improved efficiencies 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 DOE Deputy Secretary Daniel 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 addresses 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.
During the forum, two panels composed of key officials from both departments and leaders from energy-security think tanks provided a summary of the military’s current initiatives on clean energy and energy-policy priorities for the future.
“Changing the way energy is used and produced in our country is the right thing to do,” said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus in his opening remarks. “It’s the right thing to do for our security, it’s the right thing to do for our economy, and it’s the right thing to do for our environment.â€
