Walmart Signals the Way Forward for Facilities Energy: Lessons for DOD Installation Energy?

Walmart was mentioned prominently in the 2008 Defense Science Board (DSB) report on Energy. Considered an energy management exemplar at the time, many of the giant company's best practices have been promoted as DOD objectives since that time.

Here's how the DSB worded it 5 years ago:

The Task Force was struck by the contrast between the energy demand data collected by DOD and that collected by another very large energy consuming entity – Wal-Mart. If a single freezer cabinet door remains open too long at an individual store, an alarm is triggered at Wal-Mart’s headquarters in Bentonville, AR. Wal-Mart uses detailed demand and consumption data to inform corporate wide decisions that affect energy demand including capital investments, maintenance policies and operational procedures.

We've clearly made progress since then, but Walmart is now upping the ante with its recent announcement of very  aggressive new energy efficiency and self-sufficiency goals. As reported by Energy modernization expert Jesse Berst from a Walmart press release:

CEO Mike Duke [said] the company intends to:

• Produce or procure 7 billion KWh of renewable energy every year (up 600% from 2010 levels) 

• Reduce the energy intensity of its buildings by 20% compared to 2010 levels

• Install solar on at least 1,000 rooftops by 2020 (it has 200 in place or in development now)

• Increase LED usage indoors and outdoors

• Be supplied 100% by renewable energy by 2020

Holy smokes.  And there's no reason to believe Walmart won't hit these targets.

Now questions for you: should the DOD try to keep pace?  Can it?  You can see the full article HERE.

DoD: Know Your (Likely) Energy Secretary

I first met Ernie Moniz several years ago in his position as head of the new MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) pronounced MIGHTY. Well, looks like MITEI's going to need a new leader soon, because if all goes well for Moniz, and so far it has, he's going to be approved as the next US Secretary of Energy.

As this GTM article reveals, Moniz is in the "pursue everything" camp when it comes to energy security.  This tends to aggravate almost everyone, but speaking on behalf of DEB co-blogger Dan Nolan, and thinking from a DoD context, we like it.

On a personal note, Ernie and I live in the same town just outside downtown Boston, and our paths have crossed during dog-walking duties. Though it's separate from MITEI, as a member of the most excellent MIT Energy Club, I've benefitted from the passion for energy and culture change Moniz has instilled across the campus. Believe he will be a largely positive force for energy thinking going forward, including coordination with and support of DoD initiatives.

Photo credit: MIT Alumni on Flickr.com

Aim High 2013: USAF Updates its Energy Plans

B-2 Spirit - Click to greatly enlarge

I remember talks several years ago with Mike Aimone, then an SES and big cheese of Air Force installations and logistics on a workable definition of energy security. After a stint at  Battelle, he's back in DOD as Director, Business Enterprise Integration ODUSD (AT&L)/I&E (BEI) (thanks to Scott Sklar for the correction). Nevertheless, the Air Force's search to define and deliver energy security goes on.

USAF has just released its 2013 Energy Plan, its first revision to the 2010 edition, and it addresses all the right topics, albeit at very high, and highly polished, level. Included is this sidebar on Installation Energy Security:

Some Good News on the DOD Energy Front: Less Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth

In the midst of the wailing and gnashing of teeth over the future of DOD energy, one of the innovative ideas of the Navy seemed to run aground on the shoals of Senate trepidation.  Senator Toomey (R-Pa) submitted amendments to the continuing resolution that would cut funding to the Navy biofuel program.  Apparently, Toomey was not happy about Tobyhanna’s loss of 400+ civilian contractors in the coming weeks due to sequestration.

According to ASD,OEPP Sharon Burke’s Facebook page there is good news!  She is thanking the Senate for keeping DOD energy options open, vis-à-vis biofuels.  And yes, I get most of my news from Facebook and Jon Stewart. I know this will draw the ire of those old salty dogs who don’t want to see their Navy used to “experiment”, so we can await their comments.

(Not Just) Another Conference Alert: Military Microgrids

Dan attended this conference last year and unsurprisingly came away with a lot to say, HERE. Well, time flies when you're working DOD Energy and having fun so it's one more into the breach my friends.

There's a 5-for-the-price-of-1 bullet sale going on now at Blogger, so the rest of this post will take advantage of that promotion. Good luck:

Details

• When: April 30- May 1, 2013 
• Where: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge, Arlington, VA 22209
• For more info and to register click: HERE
• Point of contact: Marcus W. Min, (310) 320-8128 

Confirmed Speakers: 

• Mr. Tom Hicks, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy, Installations and Environment, US Navy 
• Mr. Steven Chalk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy, EERE/DOE 
• Dr. Jeff Marqusee, Director, DoD Environmental Security Technology Certification Program 
• CAPT Kerry Gilpin, Director, 1 Gigawatt Task Force, US Navy 
• Dr. Tim McCoy, Director, Electric Ships, PEO-Ships 
• COL Paul Roege, Chief, Operational Energy Office, US Army
• Mr. Don Juhasz, Director, Energy Resource Management, Defense Logistics Agency
• Mr. Steve Bossart, Senior Energy Analyst, National Energy Technology Lab, DOE 
• Dr. Allen Hefner, Assistant to the National Coordinator for Grid Interoperability, NIST 
• Mr. Stephen Schneider, Vice President and Chief Solutions Architect, SAIC 
• Dr. Charles Chen, Technical Programs Manager, Advanced Concepts, Northrop Grumman 
• Ms. Angela Watmore, Director, Boeing Energy Transmission and Distribution 
• Mr. Dan Nordloh, Executive Vice President, ZBB Energy 
• Mr. Bill Becker, Director, Microgrid Solutions, Spirae 
• Dr. Bala Vinayagam, Director, Smart Grid Products, GE 
• Mr. Deepak Devin, President, Varentec 
• Mr. William Taylor, Solutions Development Leader, Energy and Environment, Honeywell 
• Mr. Richard Hockney, Chief Engineer, Beacon Power 
• Mr. Brian Lenane, Senior Principal, Strategic Initiatives, SRA 
• Mr. Liam Dohn, Project Manager, Smart Grid Division, Siemens

Conference Alert: American Energy Security Summit

Hat tip to IBM colleague Tim F for sending this our way.  As he says, could this be the successor to the once mighty GovEnergy (RIP)? Not sure, but it may be worth keeping an eye on.

Some of the topics it will cover include:

• Federal energy priorities, programs, and contracts, featuring the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies
• Energy efficiency priorities, including achieving net zero installations and advanced lighting solutions
• Clean energy priorities, including biofuels for jets and electric and natural gas-powered ground transportation

No speakers or DoD participants listed yet, but the dates are 5-6 Aug 2013 and the location is DC

Here's the LINK for more.

Sequester means DOD Energy now Racing under Yellow Flag

From multiple sources, the threat (and since March 1st, the reality) of sequester-driven DOD budget cuts has put many energy related initiatives on hold. In some cases, it's full stop for the foreseeable project. In others, there's an expectation that things will keep going but will be at reduced speed.

Not complaining, mind you. While energy security is top of mind for this blog, military planners clearly have bigger and more pressing concerns at this moment. Energy will have to take a back seat until sequester and other budget-related issues are sorted out.

There are exceptions of course, with some energy projects still motoring on. But since the inception of the DOD Energy Blog in the summer of 2008, hot on the heals of the 2008 Defense Science Board report on Energy, we've never seen a lull like this one.

Let's hope energy gets the green flag again soon. And BTW, if your experience of the sequester's impact on DOD Energy is markedly different than the way I've characterized it here, plus make comment or drop an email and we'll revise accordingly. Thanks. Andy

Photo credit: wikimedia.org