36 POLICY & RESEARCH
came even more important as the air base is to increase energy efficiency. This step had to transport search and rescue teams to does require capital expenditures. Installthe disaster site.13 ing more efficient lighting, replacing older HVAC systems, and using more efficient Current efforts boilers are examples of how to increase energy efficiency. The final step to reach Net Zero Military Installations net-zero status is to use on-site renewable energy generation to meet the electricity Developed in 2008, the DOD’s Net Zero needs of the base. Wind turbine generation Energy Installation Initiative is a plan to and solar photovoltaic arrays are the most turn military installations into net-zero en- common renewable energy sources, with a ergy users. The term “net zero” means that smaller number of bases using geothermal “the energy produced on site over the period or biomass generation.16 of a given year is equal to the installation’s energy demand.”14 Net zero does not imply The U.S. Army has six pilot installations that an installation will be separate from the scheduled to become net-zero users by commercial power grid. A Net Zero Instal- 2020. The designated bases are Fort Detrick lation remains connected to the grid and in Maryland, Fort Hunter Liggett in Califoruses renewable energy generated on site to nia, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, meet the installation’s energy demand. If Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Calithe renewable energy exceeds demand, the fornia, West Point in New York, and the Siinstallation can sell the surplus back to the erra Army Depot in California. In FY 2014, grid. If the renewable energy produced on the Army intends to designate 25 more bassite is less than the demand, the installation es to become net zero by 2030 and have all draws power from the civilian grid. “The Army bases be net zero by 2058. 17 Army goals for this initiative are for five Army installations to be net zero by 2020, The Net Zero Energy Installation Initiative 25 installations by 2030, and all Army in- suffers from several drawbacks, including stallations by 2058.”15 its timeline, cost, and impact on energy assurance. First, the net zero initiative takes an To reach net-zero status, an installation incredibly long-term approach despite the follows three main steps: conservation, in- call for immediate action from the DSB’s creased energy efficiency, and on-site en- “More Fight—Less Fuel” report and DOD’s ergy generation. The National Renewable Quadrennial Defense Review. The initiative Energy Laboratory’s “Net Zero Energy came to fruition in 2008 but the DOD did Military Installations: A Guide to Assess- not choose the pilot installations until 2011. ment and Planning” lays out each of these Furthermore, the pilot installations will steps. The first step is to increase conser- not reach net-zero status until 2020. Even vation. Conservation is the simplest and worse, the next batch of bases to become least expensive method of reducing energy net zero will take 16 years (2014-2030) and use because most initiatives have little cost. the remainder will not reach net zero until Educating the residents and workers of the 2058.18 This drawn-out timeline of the Net installation about their energy use and ways Zero Initiative puts military installations at to conserve electricity is step one. Step two risk and jeopardizes the DOD’s war-fighting