The Udall-Giffords Department of Defense Energy Security Act

Executive Summary
“Saving energy saves lives.”
–Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Background
Energy security is national security. The United States is the world’s largest consumer of energy, using 7 billion barrels of oil
each year. Consequently, we import 60 percent—or $400 billion-worth—from countries unfriendly to the U.S. and our interests.
At an annual cost of $20 billion, the Department of Defense (DOD) consumes a staggering 135 million barrels of fuel and 30 million
megawatt-hours of electricity. DOD’s energy consumption threatens mission success and endangers the lives of our warriors. As
Adm. Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has stated, “Energy needs to be the first thing we think about before we deploy
another soldier, before we build another ship or plane.”
Energy security is our military’s greatest vulnerability. According to Deputy Undersecretary William Lynn, 3,000-plus American
warfighters and contractors have been killed or wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan while defending our vulnerable supply lines—a
series of convoys that Osama bin Laden termed our military’s ―umbilical cord.‖
At home, the reliance on a fragile national grid by defense facilities leaves our nation susceptible to attack. The Defense Science
Board’s 2008 report, ―More Fight – Less Fuel,‖ revealed that “critical national security and homeland defense missions are at an
unacceptably high risk of extended outage from failure of the grid.”

DOD Energy Security Act

DOD has made great strides to address its energy vulnerabilities. Recent examples include the Navy’s Great Green Fleet, the Army’s
Net Zero Program, the Marine Corps’s Experimental Forward Operating Base, and the Air Force’s certification of biofuels on its
jets. However, these are service-specific, singular efforts, and the United States requires a more comprehensive defense energy
policy.
The Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011 (DODESA), developed by Senator Mark Udall and the office of
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, builds on the DOD’s efforts and systemically addresses DOD energy security.
DODESA enhances mission effectiveness by:
 Creating a Joint Contingency Base Resource Security Pilot Project to coordinate technology development across the services.
 Studying the integration of high-efficiency propulsion systems into tactical vehicles.
 Designating a DOD executive agent for alternative fuel development.
 Extending long-term contracting authority for the procurement of alternative fuels.
 Increasing the procurement of electric, hybrid and high efficiency non-tactical vehicles.
DODESA reduces DOD’s reliance on a vulnerable electric grid by:
 Funding the Installation Energy Test Bed Initiative.
 Enhancing energy-management and monitoring practices.
 Creating a plan for development of renewable projects and defining renewable electricity standards.
 Robustly funding the Energy Conservation Investment Program, which retrofits our oldest buildings with smart lighting,
insulated windows and efficient climate control systems.
 Adopting enhanced energy-efficiency standards for military buildings.
 Studying the energy security of renewable development and the societal impacts associated with enhanced energy security on
military installations.
In order to prevent any degradation of our military’s ability to defeat our enemies, DODESA permits the Secretary of Defense to
waive any requirements that hamper the Pentagon’s ability to accomplish its mission or maintain our national security.