§ 2926 — Operational Energy

(a) In carrying out section 2911(a) of this title, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure the types, availability, and use of operational energy promote the readiness of the armed forces for their military missions in contested logistics environments. (b) The Secretary of Defense shall— (1) require the Secretaries concerned and the commanders of the combatant commands to assess the energy supportability in contested logistics environments of systems, capabilities, and plans; (2) authorize the use of energy security, cost of backup power, supportability in contested logistics environments, and energy resilience as factors in the cost-benefit analysis for procurement of operational equipment; and (3) in selecting equipment that will use operational energy, give favorable consideration to the acquisition of equipment that enhances energy security, energy resilience, energy conservation, and reduces logistical vulnerabilities in contested logistics environments. (c) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in consultation with the heads of the appropriate Department of Defense components and in coordination with the working group under subsection (d), shall— (1) oversee the operational energy activities of the Department of Defense, including the activities of the working group established under subsection (d), and oversee the investments of the Department in such activities; (2) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the policies and investments that affect the use of operational energy across the Department of Defense, taking into account the findings of the working group under subsection (d); (3) establish guidelines and recommend to the Secretary policy to improve warfighting capability through energy security and energy resilience, taking into account the findings of the working group under subsection (d); (4) encourage collaboration with and leveraging of investments made by the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and other relevant Federal agencies to advance alternative fuel development to the benefit of the Department of Defense; and (5) certify the budget associated with the investment of the Department of Defense in alternative fuel activities in accordance with subsection (f)(4). (1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a working group to integrate efforts to mitigate contested logistics challenges through the reduction of operational energy demand that are carried out within each armed force, across the armed forces, and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and to conduct other coordinated functions relating to such efforts. (2) The head of the working group under paragraph (1) shall be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment. The Assistant Secretary shall supervise the members of the working group and provide guidance to such members with respect to specific operational energy plans and programs to be carried out pursuant to the strategy under subsection (e). (3) The members of the working group under paragraph (1) shall be as follows: (A) A senior official of each armed force, who shall be nominated by the Secretary concerned and confirmed by the Senate to represent such armed force. (B) A senior official from each geographic and functional combatant command, who shall be appointed by the commander of the respective combatant command to represent such combatant command. (C) A senior official under the jurisdiction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who shall be appointed by the Chairman to represent the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff. (D) A senior official of the Defense Logistics Agency, who shall be appointed by the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency to represent the Defense Logistics Agency. (E) An official of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, who shall be nominated by the Secretary of Defense and confirmed by the Senate to represent such Office. (F) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, who shall represent the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. (G) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, who shall represent the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment. (4) Each member of the working group shall be responsible for carrying out operational energy plans and programs and implementing coordinated initiatives, or developing capabilities for such purposes, pursuant to the strategy under subsection (e) for the respective component of the Department that the member represents. (5) The duties of the working group under paragraph (1) shall be as follows: (A) Planning for the integration of efforts to mitigate contested logistics challenges through the reduction of operational energy demand carried out within each armed force, across the armed forces, and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. (B) Developing recommendations regarding the strategy for operational energy under subsection (e). (C) Developing recommendations relating to the development of, and modernization efforts for, platforms and weapons systems of the armed forces. (D) Developing recommendations to ensure that such development and modernization efforts lead to increased lethality, extended range, and extended on-station time for tactical assets. (E) Developing recommendations to mitigate the effects of hostile action by a near-peer adversary targeting operational energy storage and operations of the armed forces, including through the use of innovative delivery systems, distributed storage, flexible contracting, and improved automation. (6) The working group under paragraph (1) shall meet not less frequently than quarterly. (A) Not later than February 1 of each year, the working group under paragraph (1) shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that contains a description of the following: (i) The topics addressed in the meetings of the working group during the preceding year. (ii) The priorities of the working group for the following year (including with respect to any shortfalls in personnel, equipment, infrastructure, energy and storage, or capabilities) in support of the operational plans of the Department of Defense. (iii) Any steps taken by the working group, as of the date of the submission, to address any identified shortfalls in budget or capabilities. (B) Each report under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with the working group under subsection (d), shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a department-wide transformational strategy for operational energy. The strategy shall be updated every five years and shall establish near-term, mid-term, and long-term goals, performance metrics to measure progress in meeting the goals, and a plan for implementation of the strategy within each armed force, across the armed forces, and with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. (2) The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A plan to integrate efforts to mitigate contested logistics challenges through the reduction of operational energy demand within each armed force. (B) An assessment of how industry trends transitioning from the production of internal combustion engines to the development and production of alternative propulsion systems may affect the long-term availability of parts for military equipment, the fuel costs for such equipment, and the sustainability of such equipment. (C) An assessment of any technologies, including electric, hydrogen, or other sustainable fuel technologies, that may reduce operational energy demand in the near-term or long-term. (D) An assessment of how the Secretaries concerned and the commanders of the combatant commands can better plan for challenges presented by near-peer adversaries in a contested logistics environment, including through innovative delivery systems, distributed storage, flexible contracting, and improved automation. (E) A biennial assessment of any infrastructure investments of allied and partner countries that may affect operational energy availability in the event of a conflict with a near-peer adversary, which shall include— (i) an identification of efforts by the United States and allied and partner countries to mitigate mutual contested logistics challenges and to develop complementary energy security and energy reliance measures; (ii) an analysis of investments made by allied and partner countries in any technology, including electric, hydrogen, nuclear, biofuels, and any other sustainable fuel technology or renewable energy technology, that may reduce demand for operational energy in the near-term or long-term; (iii) an identification of any limitations or barriers to closing or mitigating gaps in operational energy investment with allied and partner countries, including any additional authorities or appropriations that may be required; and (iv) an analysis of the feasibility and advisability of establishing a partnership program using existing authorities to collaborate with the national security forces of allied and partner countries for the purpose of developing and maintaining transformational strategies for operational energy with the objectives of enhancing the readiness of such countries and employing diverse energy sources that reduce demand and logistical vulnerabilities. (3) By authority of the Secretary of Defense, and taking into consideration the findings of the working group, the Assistant Secretary shall prescribe policies and procedures for the implementation of the strategy and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense with respect to specific operational energy plans and programs to be carried out pursuant to the strategy. (4) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the budget for fiscal year 2024 is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, and every five years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees the strategy required under paragraph (1). (1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall review and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense regarding all budgetary and financial matters relating to the operational energy strategy. (2) The Secretary of Defense shall require that the Secretary of each military department and the head of each Defense Agency with responsibility for executing activities associated with the strategy transmit their proposed budget for those activities for a fiscal year to the Assistant Secretary for review before submission of the proposed budget to the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). (3) The Assistant Secretary shall review a proposed budget transmitted under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year and, not later than January 31 of the preceding fiscal year, shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report containing the comments of the Assistant Secretary with respect to the proposed budget, together with the certification of the Assistant Secretary regarding whether the proposed budget is adequate for implementation of the strategy. (4) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the budget for a fiscal year is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the proposed budgets for that fiscal year that were reviewed by the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (3). (5) For each proposed budget covered by a report under paragraph (4) for which the certification of the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (3) is that the budget is not adequate for implementation of the strategy, the report shall include the following: (A) A copy of the report set forth in paragraph (3). (B) A discussion of the actions that the Secretary proposes to take, together with any recommended legislation that the Secretary considers appropriate, to address the inadequacy of the proposed budget. (C) An appendix prepared by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff describing— (i) the progress made by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council in implementing the energy Key Performance Parameter; and (ii) details regarding how operational energy is being addressed in defense planning, scenarios, support to strategic analysis, and resulting policy to improve combat capability. (D) An appendix prepared by the Under Secretary for Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment certifying that and describing how the acquisition system is addressing operational energy in the procurement process, including long-term sustainment considerations, and how programs are extending combat capability as a result of these considerations. (E) A separate statement of estimated expenditures and requested appropriations for that fiscal year for the activities of the Assistant Secretary in carrying out the duties of the Assistant Secretary. (F) Any additional comments that the Secretary considers appropriate regarding the inadequacy of the proposed budgets. (6) For each proposed budget covered by a report under paragraph (4) for which the certification of the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (3) is that the budget is adequate for implementation of the strategy, the report shall include the items set forth in subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) of paragraph (5). (1) Each member of the working group under subsection (d) shall submit to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment the results of all studies and initiatives conducted by the respective component of the Department that the member represents for purposes of the working group in connection with the operational energy strategy. (2) The Assistant Secretary shall have access to all records and data in the Department of Defense (including the records and data of each armed force) necessary in order to permit the Assistant Secretary to carry out the duties of the Assistant Secretary. (h) In this section, the term “contested logistics environment” means an environment in which the armed forces engage in conflict with an adversary that presents challenges in all domains and directly targets logistics operations, facilities, and activities in the United States, abroad, or in transit from one location to the other.