The U.S. Department of the Navy (DON) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on energy and water-related projects to improve the reliability, efficiency and resilience of Navy installations in California.
CEC Chair David Hochschild elaborated that the installation efforts will address energy resilience issues, fossil fuel and GHG reductions, climate initiatives, water consumption and alternative-fuel vehicles. The agreement renews the cooperation between the DON and the CEC for five more years.
Hochschild added, “The partnership between the California Energy Commission, the Navy and the Marines will help us advance a clean energy future by increasing energy efficiency measures and expanding renewable energy resources on bases and installations.”
Some of the projects the CEC and DON have worked on include the installation of microgrids, battery storage and renewable energy at critical DON facilities to improve electric grid stability. The CEC grant programs, like the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), provided $50 million in funding to projects that support the Department of Defense military bases in California.
“The Navy and Marine Corps need reliable power ashore to ensure we are able to train, man, equip, then deploy and employ our personnel. By signing this MOU with the State of California we can work hand-in-hand to be good stewards of the environment and improve the resiliency, reliability and efficiency of our DON installations throughout the state,” explained Meredith Berger, performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy & Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment.
Earlier, Berger discussed MCAS Miramar’s microgrid, battery storage, EV infrastructure expansion and energy resilient projects with the U.S. Marine Corps and CEC energy representatives.
The microgrid installation at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego was completed in March 2021. Since its installation, the microgrid has produced over $90 million in energy savings, according to reports.
