More photovoltaic installations on US military bases – USA pv magazine

June 24, 2024 Anna Fischer

With more than 300,000 buildings and 600,000 vehicles, the U.S. government is the nation’s largest energy consumer. As part of the Federal Sustainability Plan, which directs the government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the government is rapidly increasing the use of solar energy on military bases, five of which will soon draw electricity from two solar installations in South Carolina.

Under the partnership with Duke Energy worth an estimated $248 million, the Department of Defense (DOD) will be the exclusive purchaser of all production generated by the two new solar facilities. The five military installations in North and South Carolina that will benefit from clean energy are Fort Liberty, USMC-Camp Lejeune, USMC-Cherry Point, USAF Seymour Johnson and USAF Shaw.

“DoD is leading by example on climate change in a way that will spur new clean electricity production, create good-paying jobs, increase our resilience to climate change and improve our national security,” said Andrew Mayock, federal sustainability director at White Chamber Council on Environmental Quality.

Duke Energy estimates it will deliver 135 MW and approximately 4.8 million MWh of renewable energy to the two states over 15 years. According to the Department of Defense, these installations will achieve 75% of carbon-free energy needs by 2030. For example, Fort Liberty will reduce its electricity emissions by 27% compared to 2022, with savings available through 2040. Two solar PV plants, scheduled to be operational in 2026, will be developed, owned and operated by EnergyRe, according to Duke.

“This project is a great opportunity to help our military departments and warfighters achieve decarbonization goals and is critical to achieving our initial goals of Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability. DLA Energy is committed to supporting the Administration’s clean energy initiatives and helping military services and government partners achieve their climate change goals,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jennifer Neris, director of carbon-free electricity at the Department of Defense Logistics Agency.

Duke Energy reports that it currently owns, operates and purchases more than 5,100 MW of solar energy on its power grid in the Carolinas, enough to power nearly 1 million homes annually. North Carolina currently ranks 5th in the nation for total solar energy. The utility says its portfolio of nuclear, hydro and renewable energy makes more than half of its energy mix in North Carolina carbon-free.

The Department of Defense said in a statement that it will continue to pursue partnership opportunities that would enable the agency and other federal partners to achieve President Biden’s zero-emissions energy goals and build a robust, clean and domestic electricity supply chain by 2030.

“Our partnerships with utilities are essential to ensuring the Army’s energy resiliency,” said Rachel Jacobson, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and the environment. “These partnerships help us install microgrids in our installations enabling emission-free energy generation and storage. Our continued partnership with Duke Energy allows the Army to contribute to a more reliable trade network that strengthens the resilience of the defense communities where our Soldiers, military families and civilians live. I am proud of these partnerships and look forward to expanding them so that our utilities always have access to the electricity we need to defend the nation.”