- § 2924. Definitions
- § 2925.
- § 2926. Operational energy
- § 2927. Global bulk fuel management and delivery
- § 2928. Programs on reduction of fuel reliance and promotion of energy-aware behaviors
§ 2924. DefinitionsIn this chapter:
(1) The term “defined fuel source” means any of the following:
(A) Petroleum.
(B) Natural gas.
(C) Coal.
(D) Coke.
(2) The term “energy-efficient maintenance” includes—
(A) the repair of military vehicles, equipment, or facility and infrastructure systems, such as lighting, heating, or cooling equipment or systems, or industrial processes, by replacement with technology that—
(i) will achieve energy savings over the life-cycle of the equipment or system being repaired; and
(ii) will meet the same end needs as the equipment or system being repaired; and
(B) improvements in an operation or maintenance process, such as improved training or improved controls, that result in energy savings.
(3) The term “hybrid”, with respect to a motor vehicle, means a motor vehicle that draws propulsion energy from onboard sources of stored energy that are both—
(A) an internal combustion or heat engine using combustible fuel; and
(B) a rechargeable energy storage system.
(4) The term “operational energy” means the energy required for training, moving, and sustaining military forces and weapons platforms for military operations. The term includes energy used by tactical power systems and generators and weapons platforms.
(5) The term “petroleum” means natural or synthetic crude, blends of natural or synthetic crude, and products refined or derived from natural or synthetic crude or from such blends.
(6) The term “renewable energy source” means energy generated from renewable sources, including the following:
(A) Solar, including electricity.
(B) Wind.
(C) Biomass.
(D) Biogas.
(E) Landfill gas.
(F) Ocean, including tidal, wave, current, and thermal.
(G) Geothermal, including electricity and heat pumps.
(H) Municipal solid waste.
(I) New hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project. For purposes of this subparagraph, hydroelectric generation capacity is “new” if it was placed in service on or after January 1, 1999.
(J) Thermal energy generated by any of the preceding sources.
(7) The term “biomass” has the meaning given the term “renewable biomass” in section 211(o)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1)).
(8) The term “biogas” means biogas as such term is used in section 211(o)(1)(B)(ii)(V) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1)(B)(ii)(V)).
(Added Pub. L. 112–81, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2821(a)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1689; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2831(c)(6), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1858; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title III, § 318, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2507.)
§ 2925.
(a)Report Required.—Not later than 240 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report detailing the fulfillment during that fiscal year of the authorities and requirements under sections 2688, 2911, 2912, 2920, and 2926 of this title, including progress on energy resilience at military installations and the use of operational energy in combat platforms and at contingency locations.
(b)Elements.—Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) For the year covered by the report, the following:
(A) A description of the progress made to achieve the goals of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58), section 2911(g) of this title, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–140).
(B) A description of the energy savings, return on investment, and enhancements to installation mission assurance realized by the fulfillment of the goals described in subparagraph (A).
(C) A description of and progress toward the energy security, resilience, and performance goals and master planning for the Department of Defense, including associated metrics pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of section 2911 of this title and requirements under section 2688(g) of this title.
(D) An evaluation of progress made by the Department in implementing the operational energy strategy of the Department, including the progress of key initiatives and technology investments related to operational energy demand and management.
(E) Details of the amounts of any funds transferred by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 2912 of this title, including a detailed description of the purpose for which such amounts have been used.
(2) Statistical information on operational energy demands of the Department, in terms of expenditures and consumption, for the preceding five fiscal years, including information on funding made available in regular defense appropriations Acts and any supplemental appropriations Acts.
(3) A description of each initiative related to the operational energy strategy of the Department and a summary of funds appropriated for each initiative in the previous fiscal year and current fiscal year and requested for each initiative for the next five fiscal years.
(4) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for additional changes in organization or authority within the Department to enable further implementation of the energy strategy and such other comments and recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c)Classified Form.—If a report under subsection (a) is submitted in classified form, the Secretary of Defense shall, concurrently with such report, submit to the congressional defense committees an unclassified version of the report.
(d)Consolidation.—The Secretary of Defense may consolidate, attach with, or otherwise include in any report required under subsection (a) any annual report or other requirement that is aligned or associated with, or would be better understood if presented as part of a consolidated report addressing energy performance, resilience, and readiness.
(Added Pub. L. 109–364, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2851(a)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2493; amended Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title III, § 331(a), (b)(1), div. B, title XXVIII, § 2832, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4419, 4420, 4732; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title III, § 332(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2257; Pub. L. 111–383, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2832(c)(1), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4469; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title III, §§ 314(b), 342, div. B, title XXVIII, §§ 2821(b)(4), 2822(d), 2824(b), 2826, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1357, 1370, 1691–1694; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(c)(3), (d)(6), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1950, 1951; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title IX, § 901(k)(4), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3468; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title III, § 313, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 789; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title III, § 311, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2072; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(48), div. B, title XXVIII, §§ 2831(c)(7), 2836, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1597, 1858, 1859; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title III, §§ 312(c), 314(b)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1710, 1712; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title III, §§ 319(a), 320(a)(2)(B), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1305, 1306; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title III, § 336(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3533; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title III, § 311(i)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1626; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title III, § 314(b)(1), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2503.)
§ 2926. Operational energy
(a)Operational Energy Policy.—In carrying out section 2911(a) of this title, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure the types, availability, and use of operational energy promote the readiness of the armed forces for their military missions in contested logistics environments.
(b)Responsibilities.—The Secretary of Defense shall—
(1) require the Secretaries concerned and the commanders of the combatant commands to assess the energy supportability in contested logistics environments of systems, capabilities, and plans;
(2) authorize the use of energy security, cost of backup power, supportability in contested logistics environments, and energy resilience as factors in the cost-benefit analysis for procurement of operational equipment; and
(3) in selecting equipment that will use operational energy, give favorable consideration to the acquisition of equipment that enhances energy security, energy resilience, energy conservation, and reduces logistical vulnerabilities in contested logistics environments.
(c)The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in consultation with the heads of the appropriate Department of Defense components and in coordination with the working group under subsection (d), shall—
(1) oversee the operational energy activities of the Department of Defense, including the activities of the working group established under subsection (d), and oversee the investments of the Department in such activities;
(2) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the policies and investments that affect the use of operational energy across the Department of Defense, taking into account the findings of the working group under subsection (d);
(3) establish guidelines and recommend to the Secretary policy to improve warfighting capability through energy security and energy resilience, taking into account the findings of the working group under subsection (d);
(4) encourage collaboration with and leveraging of investments made by the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and other relevant Federal agencies to advance alternative fuel development to the benefit of the Department of Defense; and
(5) certify the budget associated with the investment of the Department of Defense in alternative fuel activities in accordance with subsection (f)(4).
(d)Working Group.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a working group to integrate efforts to mitigate contested logistics challenges through the reduction of operational energy demand that are carried out within each armed force, across the armed forces, and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and to conduct other coordinated functions relating to such efforts.
(2) The head of the working group under paragraph (1) shall be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment. The Assistant Secretary shall supervise the members of the working group and provide guidance to such members with respect to specific operational energy plans and programs to be carried out pursuant to the strategy under subsection (e).
(3) The members of the working group under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
(A) A senior official of each armed force, who shall be nominated by the Secretary concerned and confirmed by the Senate to represent such armed force.
(B) A senior official from each geographic and functional combatant command, who shall be appointed by the commander of the respective combatant command to represent such combatant command.
(C) A senior official under the jurisdiction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who shall be appointed by the Chairman to represent the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff.
(D) A senior official of the Defense Logistics Agency, who shall be appointed by the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency to represent the Defense Logistics Agency.
(E) An official of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, who shall be nominated by the Secretary of Defense and confirmed by the Senate to represent such Office.
(F) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, who shall represent the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition.
(G) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, who shall represent the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment.
(4) Each member of the working group shall be responsible for carrying out operational energy plans and programs and implementing coordinated initiatives, or developing capabilities for such purposes, pursuant to the strategy under subsection (e) for the respective component of the Department that the member represents.
(5) The duties of the working group under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
(A) Planning for the integration of efforts to mitigate contested logistics challenges through the reduction of operational energy demand carried out within each armed force, across the armed forces, and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
(B) Developing recommendations regarding the strategy for operational energy under subsection (e).
(C) Developing recommendations relating to the development of, and modernization efforts for, platforms and weapons systems of the armed forces.
(D) Developing recommendations to ensure that such development and modernization efforts lead to increased lethality, extended range, and extended on-station time for tactical assets.
(E) Developing recommendations to mitigate the effects of hostile action by a near-peer adversary targeting operational energy storage and operations of the armed forces, including through the use of innovative delivery systems, distributed storage, flexible contracting, and improved automation.
(6) The working group under paragraph (1) shall meet not less frequently than quarterly.
(7)
(A) Not later than February 1 of each year, the working group under paragraph (1) shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that contains a description of the following:
(i) The topics addressed in the meetings of the working group during the preceding year.
(ii) The priorities of the working group for the following year (including with respect to any shortfalls in personnel, equipment, infrastructure, energy and storage, or capabilities) in support of the operational plans of the Department of Defense.
(iii) Any steps taken by the working group, as of the date of the submission, to address any identified shortfalls in budget or capabilities.
(B) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(e)Operational Energy Strategy.—
(1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with the working group under subsection (d), shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a department-wide transformational strategy for operational energy. The strategy shall be updated every five years and shall establish near-term, mid-term, and long-term goals, performance metrics to measure progress in meeting the goals, and a plan for implementation of the strategy within each armed force, across the armed forces, and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
(2) The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) A plan to integrate efforts to mitigate contested logistics challenges through the reduction of operational energy demand within each armed force.
(B) An assessment of how industry trends transitioning from the production of internal combustion engines to the development and production of alternative propulsion systems may affect the long-term availability of parts for military equipment, the fuel costs for such equipment, and the sustainability of such equipment.
(C) An assessment of any technologies, including electric, hydrogen, or other sustainable fuel technologies, that may reduce operational energy demand in the near-term or long-term.
(D) An assessment of how the Secretaries concerned and the commanders of the combatant commands can better plan for challenges presented by near-peer adversaries in a contested logistics environment, including through innovative delivery systems, distributed storage, flexible contracting, and improved automation.
(E) A biennial assessment of any infrastructure investments of allied and partner countries that may affect operational energy availability in the event of a conflict with a near-peer adversary, which shall include—
(i) an identification of efforts by the United States and allied and partner countries to mitigate mutual contested logistics challenges and to develop complementary energy security and energy reliance measures;
(ii) an analysis of investments made by allied and partner countries in any technology, including electric, hydrogen, nuclear, biofuels, and any other sustainable fuel technology or renewable energy technology, that may reduce demand for operational energy in the near-term or long-term;
(iii) an identification of any limitations or barriers to closing or mitigating gaps in operational energy investment with allied and partner countries, including any additional authorities or appropriations that may be required; and
(iv) an analysis of the feasibility and advisability of establishing a partnership program using existing authorities to collaborate with the national security forces of allied and partner countries for the purpose of developing and maintaining transformational strategies for operational energy with the objectives of enhancing the readiness of such countries and employing diverse energy sources that reduce demand and logistical vulnerabilities.
(3) By authority of the Secretary of Defense, and taking into consideration the findings of the working group, the Assistant Secretary shall prescribe policies and procedures for the implementation of the strategy and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense with respect to specific operational energy plans and programs to be carried out pursuant to the strategy.
(4) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the budget for fiscal year 2024 is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, and every five years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees the strategy required under paragraph (1).
(f)Budgetary and Financial Matters.—
(1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense regarding all budgetary and financial matters relating to the operational energy strategy.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall require that the Secretary of each military department and the head of each Defense Agency with responsibility for executing activities associated with the strategy transmit their proposed budget for those activities for a fiscal year to the Assistant Secretary for review before submission of the proposed budget to the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
(3) The Assistant Secretary shall review a proposed budget transmitted under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year and, not later than January 31 of the preceding fiscal year, shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report containing the comments of the Assistant Secretary with respect to the proposed budget, together with the certification of the Assistant Secretary regarding whether the proposed budget is adequate for implementation of the strategy.
(4) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the budget for a fiscal year is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the proposed budgets for that fiscal year that were reviewed by the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (3).
(5) For each proposed budget covered by a report under paragraph (4) for which the certification of the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (3) is that the budget is not adequate for implementation of the strategy, the report shall include the following:
(A) A copy of the report set forth in paragraph (3).
(B) A discussion of the actions that the Secretary proposes to take, together with any recommended legislation that the Secretary considers appropriate, to address the inadequacy of the proposed budget.
(C) An appendix prepared by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff describing—
(i) the progress made by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council in implementing the energy Key Performance Parameter; and
(ii) details regarding how operational energy is being addressed in defense planning, scenarios, support to strategic analysis, and resulting policy to improve combat capability.
(D) An appendix prepared by the Under Secretary for Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment certifying that and describing how the acquisition system is addressing operational energy in the procurement process, including long-term sustainment considerations, and how programs are extending combat capability as a result of these considerations.
(E) A separate statement of estimated expenditures and requested appropriations for that fiscal year for the activities of the Assistant Secretary in carrying out the duties of the Assistant Secretary.
(F) Any additional comments that the Secretary considers appropriate regarding the inadequacy of the proposed budgets.
(6) For each proposed budget covered by a report under paragraph (4) for which the certification of the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (3) is that the budget is adequate for implementation of the strategy, the report shall include the items set forth in subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) of paragraph (5).
(g)Access to Initiative Results and Records.—
(1) Each member of the working group under subsection (d) shall submit to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment the results of all studies and initiatives conducted by the respective component of the Department that the member represents for purposes of the working group in connection with the operational energy strategy.
(2) The Assistant Secretary shall have access to all records and data in the Department of Defense (including the records and data of each armed force) necessary in order to permit the Assistant Secretary to carry out the duties of the Assistant Secretary.
(h)Contested Logistics Environment Defined.—In this section, the term “contested logistics environment” means an environment in which the armed forces engage in conflict with an adversary that presents challenges in all domains and directly targets logistics operations, facilities, and activities in the United States, abroad, or in transit from one location to the other.
(Added and amended Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title IX, § 901(g)(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3464; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(12), (b)(2), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1001; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title III, § 314(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1711; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title III, § 320(a)(1)(B), (c)(1), title IX, § 902(83), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1306, 1307, 1553; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title III, § 351(a)–(e), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1650–1653; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title III, § 343(1)(A), (2), (3), title X, § 1053, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 224, 396.)
§ 2927. Global bulk fuel management and delivery
(a)Responsible Element.—
(1) Beginning during the period described in paragraph (2) and permanently thereafter, the United States Transportation Command shall be the element responsible for bulk fuel management and delivery of the Department of Defense on a global basis.
(2) The period described in this paragraph is the period beginning on January 1, 2023, and ending on February 1, 2023.
(b)Coordination With Defense Logistics Agency.—In carrying out the responsibilities specified in subsection (a), the Commander of the United States Transportation Command shall coordinate with the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency.
(c)Rule of Construction.—Except to the extent that, prior to January 1, 2023, a responsibility specified in subsection (a) was a specific function of the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, nothing under this section shall be construed as—
(1) limiting any other function of the Defense Logistics Agency Energy; or
(2) requiring the transfer of any function, personnel, or asset from the Defense Logistics Agency Energy to the United States Transportation Command.
(Added Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title III, § 352(a)(1), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1654.)
§ 2928. Programs on reduction of fuel reliance and promotion of energy-aware behaviors
(a)Establishment.—Each Secretary of a military department shall establish a program for the promotion of energy-aware behaviors and the reduction of unnecessary fuel consumption within that military department.
(b)Goals.—The goals of the programs established under subsection (a) shall be as follows:
(1) To increase operational energy resiliency.
(2) To decrease energy-related strategic vulnerabilities and enhance military readiness.
(3) To integrate sustainability features for new and existing military installations and other facilities of the Department.
(c)Minimum Required Elements.—Under the program of a military department under subsection (a), the Secretary of the military department shall carry out, with respect to the military department, and at a minimum, the following:
(1) The development and implementation of a strategy for the collection and analysis of data on fuel consumption, to identify operational inefficiencies and enable data-driven decision making with respect to fuel logistics and the reduction of fuel consumption.
(2) The fostering of an energy-aware culture across the military department to reduce fuel consumption, including through—
(A) the incorporation of energy conservation and resiliency principles into training curricula and other training materials of the military department, including by updating such materials to include information on the effect of energy-aware behaviors on improving readiness and combat capability; and
(B) the review of standard operating procedures, and other operational manuals and procedures, of the military department, to identify procedures that increase fuel consumption with no operational benefit.
(3) The integration of operational energy factors into the wargaming of the military department and related training activities that involve the modeling of scenarios, in accordance with subsection (d), to provide to participants in such activities realistic data on the risks and challenges relating to operational energy and fuel logistics.
(4) The implementation of data-driven procedures, operations planning, and logistics, to optimize cargo transport and refueling operations within the military department.
(d)Wargaming Elements.—In integrating operational energy factors into the wargaming and related training activities of a military department under subsection (c)(3), the Secretary of the military department shall seek to ensure that the planning, design, and execution of such activities include—
(1) coordination with the elements of the military department responsible for fuel and logistics matters, to ensure the modeling of energy demand and network risk during such activities are accurate, taking into account potential shortfalls and the direct and indirect effects of the efforts of foreign adversaries to target fuel supply chains; and
(2) a focus on improving integrated life-cycle management processes and fuel supply logistics.
(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title III, § 319(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2507.)