Defense Department Stimulus Funding Plan Released
The Department of Defense has released a 191-page document entitled “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Department of Defense Expenditure Plans” which has a eight-page explanation of how energy funding will be spent.
President Obama signed the $787 billion economic stimulus legislation into law on February 17. Accompanying this bill was an Explanatory Statement providing the appropriators’ recommendations on how this money is to be spent. In the section for the Department of Defense, which received a total of $7.4 billion, the Statement includes the following on how $300 million of this funding is to be spent:
“NEAR TERM ENERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS AND RESEARCH
“The conference agreement provides $75,000,000 for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army; $75,000,000 for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy; $75,000,000 for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force; and $75,000,000 for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide only for the funding of research, development, test and evaluation projects, including pilot projects, demonstrations and energy efficient manufacturing enhancements. Funds are for improvements in energy generation and efficiency, transmission, regulation, storage, and for use on military installations and within operational forces, to include research and development of energy from fuel cells, wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources to include biofuels and bioenergy. The Secretary of Defense is directed to provide a report to the congressional defense committees detailing the planned use of these funds within 60 days after enactment of this Act. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense is directed to provide a report on the progress made by this effort to the congressional defense committees not later than one year after enactment of this Act and an additional report not later than two years after enactment of this Act.”
“Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Plan
“This section includes a plan for RDT&E funded near-term energy efficiency, alternative energy supply, and tactical energy/power system demonstrations and research to be funded under Division A, Title III of the Recovery Act.
“The Components submitted multiple energy-related RDT&E candidate projects, studies and proposals for review in five broad areas listed below. Candidate projects were submitted to the Energy Security Task Force, which is comprised of representatives from the Military Services, Defense Agencies, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff, and chaired by the Director, Defense Research and Engineering, for review and to de-conflict funding being spent on the same kinds of research. Another goal of the Energy Security Task Force review was to place a priority on RDT&E projects for near-term demonstration.
“The list is organized by the following categories for Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense-Wide activities: Fuel Optimization for Mobility Platforms Facility Energy Initiatives Operational Efficiencies/Commercial Practices Domestic Energy Supply/Distribution Tactical power Systems /Generators”
“Develop flexible photovoltaic devices and cells for sensor, Soldier, and autonomous systems. Investigate novel approaches, highly integrated advanced materials, electronic devices and structures to enhance weight, space reduction and self powering for emerging flexible and specialized electronics. Program will leverage and accelerate development and demonstration of integrated flexible solar cells, and high-efficiency solar cell film technology for renewable energy sources for the Army which will also have commercial applicability.”
The entire plan may be reviewed here . Section III of this report starts on pdf page 162.
Additional information is available here .
