The U.S. Army has announced the establishment of the Energy Initiatives Office (EIO) Task Force, which will serve as the central managing office for the development of large-scale renewable energy projects for the Army. The EIO Task Force is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.
‘The Energy Initiatives Office Task Force will help the Army build resilience through renewable energy while streamlining our business practices so developers can invest in and build an economically viable, large-scale renewable energy infrastructure,’ says John M. McHugh, secretary of the Army. ‘To meet a goal of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025, the Army must use every opportunity to be energy efficient and draw power from alternative and/or renewable energy sources.’
The scale of renewable energy production the Army needs in order to provide enhanced energy security is estimated to require investment up to $7.1 billion over the next 10 years. This level of investment is expected to generate 2.1 million MWh hours of power annually for the Army.
The EIO Task Force will fill this expertise gap and provide resources focused on working with the private sector to execute large-scale renewable energy projects. This is expected to result in increased interest by project developers and improved financial options for the Army.
Through the EIO Task Force, the Army is planning to conduct an outreach effort to attract and engage private industry to foster strategic and financial collaboration in support of the Army's installation energy needs.
