[MERC] Military Energy Resilience Catalyst Program

ICYMI #MERCMonday | UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is exploring opportunities to improve installation and community #energy security through #resiliency, #reliability, and #efficiency. The Opportunity. DON released an industry request for information (RFI) to understand the challenges and opportunities for pursuing #nuclear power as carbon-free solutions at #installations. "Nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors and microreactors, have the potential to provide defense installations with resilient energy for several years, even in the face of physical or cyberattacks, extreme weather, pandemics, biothreats, and other emerging challenges that could disrupt commercial energy networks" - Rian Bahran, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Nuclear Technology and Strategy, The White House RFI Details. https://lnkd.in/gzh7xRRh Image. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Sailors host Naval Reactors by PO2 George Cardenas

"Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." - Theodore Levitt 🌟 In the spirit of innovation, we're celebrating #EnergyActionMonth by highlighting the recent honorees of our 2024 #FEDSSpotlight Innovator recognition. These federal employees are thinking outside of the box when it comes to implementing energy and water projects and programs that advance the nation's decarbonization goals. See a few highlights below. 🧪 Chris Wilson at the USDA is piloting the use of new technology coupled with best practices in laboratory sustainability design. He's championed the deployment of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling which has improved vent placement and reduced excessive cooling (saving costs and energy during the summer months) while also improving air change effectiveness, especially during the winter months (maintaining safety). 💰 Christina Lehn is an energy champion for the US Navy for her involvement with FEMP's Treasure Hunt program. With initial guidance from FEMP, she developed a 40-person team to reduce energy consumption and identify energy efficiencies through decarbonization and electrification. This effort focused on energy training related to FEMP's operations and maintenance best practices; and planning for net-zero buildings. These efforts are leading to an anticipated savings of $1 million annually. ☀️ Richard Dandasan and Jonathan McNamara of the Portland Area Indian Health Service (IHS) worked to implement the first-in-the-nation agreement with local Tribal utility Yakama Power to supply solar energy to its healthcare facilities. This agreement marks the first time a federal agency has contracted to purchase renewable solar energy directly from a tribal utility. The agreement is estimated to generate 1,810 megawatts of clean energy for IHS over the 20-year agreement. ✍️ Shawn Wood and Luna Oiwa and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the solicitation language, guidance, and training on salvaged materials for EPA's $250 million Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials grant program, resulting in nearly $30 million in grant selections for groundbreaking building material reuse embodied carbon projects. Read more about the inspiring methods these individuals are using to help their agencies and the federal government achieve its clean energy goals: https://lnkd.in/gdTpH3gs #energy #water #energyefficiency #solar #decarbonization #embodiedcarbon #sustainability #cleanenergy #EnergyAwarenessMonth #DeployWithImpact

#MERCMilestone | Congratulations to the 2024 FEDS Spotlight honorees! The Federal Energy Management Program | U.S. Department of Energy (FEMP) announced the list of individuals to be recognized as this year's federal #energy champions on October 17, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Selection Criteria. Honorees were nominated based on their efforts to implement "#resilient, #efficient, and #secure energy and water management practices and projects, while also helping their agencies to achieve #missionsuccess." 🏆[MERC] Military Energy Resilience Catalyst Program Network Honoree Shout-Outs 🔹Kirk Phillips, recognized for his United States Air Force Professional Achievement 🔹2024 MERC Cohort Member Amra Brightbill, C.E.M, recognized as a United States Marine Corps Future Leader 🔹2024 MERC Cohort Member Christina Lehn, recognized as a US Navy Innovator. Learn More. https://lnkd.in/gdTpH3gs

#MERCMonday | Investing in #Resilience: NAVFAC EXWC awarded $20 million in contracts to enhance #mission and #installation resilience in the face of #climatechange. Why It Matters. The 9 contracts awarded will mitigate the risks of flooding, sea level rise, drought, and wildland fire through #critical projects that span #coastalresilience prototypes and #nature-based solutions. “These innovative solutions are an example of how the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is leaning forward to protect our assets, our people, and our #readiness,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment Meredith Berger. This opportunity is made available by the DoD's SERDP & ESTCP. Details. https://lnkd.in/gfkhvbj4

Electricity powers our installations, fuel powers our combat vehicles, and the uninterrupted access to this energy powers the Army’s ability to defend the homeland and support our allies. Check out this #EnergyActionMonth message from Brandon Cockrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability (IE&E) ▶️ https://lnkd.in/eNpRprHh #ArmyEnergy #ArmyEnergyActionMonth #PoweringTheMission

#MERCMonday | Thank you Mindy Kimball for calling attention to the Multi-Domain Resiliency Zones (MDRZ) Concept in relation to #installation #resilience. The Shift. Resilience strategies must consider the full regional #resilience picture. This means looking beyond the fence line to view our #electricgrid as an extension of our weapons systems and platforms. In San Antonio for ADC? Join Mindy, Arizona State University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory team for a FREE #microgrid training workshop during the week of the ADC Installation Innovation Forum. The workshop is designed for a range of experience and will focus on ensuring reliable #energy access to United States Department of Defense installations. This opportunity is made possible through funding by SERDP & ESTCP. Register. https://lnkd.in/e4DpVbPt

#MERCMonday | Embrace the (#Energy) Suck: Marketplace by APM dives into how the United States Department of Defense is leveraging promising tech solutions to make it more #resilient and reduce emissions. 🔢 By The Numbers. The Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy in the United States, using 73 million barrels of fuel annually. The opportunity lies in leveraging their budget of about $850 billion a year to embrace #climateresilience. 🎧 What to Listen For. Host Kai Ryssdal dives into how #energyresilience is being advanced at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar through their #microgrid, championed by MERC Cohort Member Mick Wasco. He also covers making #sustainableaviationfuel on-site through AIR COMPANY, and concludes the episode with a conversation with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. "There’s no competition between [climate change] and being focused on what the warfighter needs. In fact, they’re not only aligned, but we’re advancing what the warfighter needs when we’re paying attention to how to make sure that she or he is able to be resilient in the face of the effects of climate change." - Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Details. https://lnkd.in/ewa9Wx_u

October is #EnergyActionMonth🔋 It’s a time to raise awareness about the critical role that energy plays in the success of the Army mission, and to explore the rapidly changing technologies that will transform our energy future. Whether it’s the power to our installations or the fuel that drives our combat vehicles, the Army’s access to resilient and reliable energy is essential to our ability to defend the homeland and support our allies. Check out this Energy Action Month message from Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army (IE&E) ▶️ https://lnkd.in/epwJjFuB #ArmyEnergy #ArmyEnergyActionMonth #PoweringTheMission

October is here and so is #EnergyActionMonth! The US Army’s access to resilient and reliable energy is essential to our ability to deploy, fight and win the Nation’s wars. From installations to the battlefield, the U.S. Army is #PoweringTheMission. Keep checking-in as we will continue to highlight examples of this year's EAM theme, “Powering The Mission”! #ArmyEnergy #ArmyEnergyActionMonth

#MERCMonday | The DoD Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation awarded 14 Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grants, totaling approximately $100 million. ⚡What It Is. DCIP is a competitive program for states, territories, and communities to undertake #infrastructure enhancements that benefit their local #installations. 👏 About Projects. Projects funded by these grants include undergrounding power lines on U.S. Air Force Academy grounds in Colorado, replacing an obsolete electric substation at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Annex, and adding critically-needed generators at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Fallbrook, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “This year’s program demonstrates how communities can come together with their military partners to address critical infrastructure needs that will enhance both the military mission and community resilience,” said William LaPlante, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment. Details. https://lnkd.in/eB8jUcSJ