Energy self-sufficiency remains a goal for U.S. Army installations, Lt. Gen. Gwen Bingham, assistant Army chief of staff for installation management, told a Senate subcommittee.

“We continue to reduce reliance on external utility systems for critical missions, improve energy and water efficiency, enable operational freedom of action and contribute to mission readiness,” Bingham said.

Security requirements approved in early 2017 direct Army installations to be capable of providing a minimum of 14 days of energy and water to sustain critical missions. The directive also requires infrastructure to be in reliable condition and systems to be in place to provide emergency operations in case of grid outages.

This is being done by a combination of reducing consumption, improving reliability and working with the private sector to improve on infrastructure improvements.

“The Army’s energy security and sustainability program has proven results, reducing our reliance on external utility systems, improving energy and water efficiency, enabling operational freedom of action, and contributing to mission readiness,” Bingham said.