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January 16, 2014
Pew Report on Pentagon Energy Released – Defense Alliance to Co-Host Roundtable
Washington, D.C., 16 January 2014: The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced the release of its substantive report on the status of Department of Defense (DoD) use of clean energy technology at its extensive base facilities worldwide. The report – “Power Surge: How the DoD Leverages Private Resources to Enhance Energy Security and Save Money on U.S. Military Bases” – is the third in a series of influential studies issued since 2011 by the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate. The full report is available at the Pew website, www.pewtrusts.org/energysecurity.
A roundtable event and press availability about “Power Surge” will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, January 22 at the Fort Snelling Officers Club (395 Minnesota Hwy 5, St. Paul, MN 55111). The goal of the morning session will be to showcase the report and the energy reduction mandates that DoD has set for energy efficiencies in the years ahead; and to highlight how the innovation that exists with Minnesota businesses can help to lead the effort to achieve those goals. The event is being organized by Defense Alliance and the Pew Charitable Trusts; and will be hosted by the U.S. Air Force 934th Airlift Wing – the reserve C-130 squadron based in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The 934th has been recognized as a leader in energy-savings initiatives by the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.
Minnesota Senator Al Franken, who is on the Energy Committee of the U.S. Senate, will attend the event and participate in a business roundtable organized by Defense Alliance and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Participants from companies like 3M, Honeywell, Rhizone ABM and Sundial Solar will weigh in on issues ranging from the state of clean energy technologies, to the needs for innovations in Pentagon procurement processes for energy solutions and products. The event will be open to the public, and a brief networking session will be held at 10:00 am, just before the event formally begins at 10:30.
Defense Alliance has been a partner with the Pew Charitable Trusts since it created the Advanced Power & Energy Cluster (APC) in 2010. APC is headquartered in the Twin Cities, and is one of the nation’s three U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-funded Advanced Defense Technologies Clusters. Work performed by the APC during the past three years has netted over $55.6 Million in contracts and over 750 jobs for its 135 members in 28 states. Members are working to provide innovative solutions to DoD energy needs and are simultaneously commercializing technology. Several Defense Alliance members have won national awards during this period, such as the CleanTech Open and the Department of Defense Energy Technology Challenge. More information about the APC and its mission can be seen on the organization’s website: www.powerfordefense.com.