Energy resilience: US Army and Air Force eye smart micro grids in a 10-year deal

The US Army and Air Force have signed 10-year Intergovernmental Support Agreements with Arizona State University to expand energy services across military installations in the continental United States. Signed on July 7, the agreements allow installations to request support for utility monitoring, energy assessments, data integration, resilience planning, and workforce development. The arrangement is intended to help bases strengthen energy resilience, improve infrastructure management, and prepare for operational disruptions. Expanding access to energy expertise Under the agreements, Army and Air Force installations can seek a broad range of technical services from Arizona State University. These include utility metering and billing analysis, energy and water assessments, building automation, distribution network modernization, on-site generation, microgrid development, independent project reviews, energy readiness exercises, and workforce training. “Intergovernmental Support Agreements give installations an important mechanism to access support services that can improve readiness and resilience,” said Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment. “This effort reflects the Army’s continued focus on strengthening infrastructure, improving efficiency and supporting mission requirements across our installations,” he continued. The US Army said the partnership can also help installations better understand existing utility systems and identify where modernization or efficiency improvements are needed. Managing aging utility systems A major focus of the Army agreement is the condition and performance of utility infrastructure at military installations. “Through this agreement, Arizona State University will provide the monitoring, analysis and technical support needed to help Army installations better understand and manage aging utility systems,” said David Dentino, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, housing and partnerships. “This partnership is about improving readiness, increasing resilience, reducing costs and ensuring our installations have the reliable infrastructure needed to support the mission,” he continued. For the Air Force, the agreement similarly creates a route for installations to obtain services linked to infrastructure, energy efficiency, and mission assurance. “National security requires energy and water surety,” said Nancy J. Balkus, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for infrastructure, energy and environment. “Every one of our installations is not just a base; it is a power projection platform to assure lethality whenever called upon. Without energy and water security, our missions cannot test, launch, sustain or succeed,” he said. Supporting long-term installation resilience Intergovernmental Support Agreements allow military installations to obtain support services from eligible state and local government entities. For the Army and Air Force, the new ASU agreements provide a framework through which bases can request energy-related expertise without creating separate arrangements for every service. The broader goal is to improve the reliability of installation infrastructure while giving military facilities more options for monitoring, planning, training, and resilience projects. By covering services ranging from metering and automation to microgrids and energy readiness exercises, the agreements give installations access to tools that can support infrastructure modernization and long-term operational preparedness. The initiative also aligns with wider efforts to ensure military installations can continue meeting mission requirements as energy systems, infrastructure demands, and operating environments evolve. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.