Energy –
As the United States seeks to transition to carbon-free energy sources to mitigate the impacts of climate change, which the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy describes as an existential threat, it faces many opportunities and challenges. In an era of substantially growing energy needs, the United States is a leader in the development of a range of carbon-free energy technologies that can play a central role in ensuring that U.S. industry, the U.S. military, and the American people have reliable access to the energy sources they need for security and prosperity. However, successfully securing investment in costly cutting-edge technologies and obtaining permission to deploy them is challenging in a regulatory environment designed for fossil-fuel sources and slow to adapt to carbon-free energy providers.
The success of the United States in achieving its carbon pollution-free electricity and net-zero emissions economy goals depends on a multi-faceted approach that encompasses investment in carbon-free energy technologies, implementation of effective policy initiatives, and collaboration among government, industry, and other stakeholders. New carbon-free energy technologies require predictable regulatory environments and government support through tax and other incentives to offset upscaling costs. The disjointed U.S. electrical grid requires substantial upgrades to realize the benefits of carbon-free energy suppliers and the electrification revolution. The United States must also adapt cybersecurity requirements to the proliferation of new smaller-scale energy suppliers to protect the grid from malicious actors.
Furthermore, government and industry sources must support workforce readiness for the carbon-free energy transition to ensure that employment and knowledge gaps do not stymie clean energy deployment. Maintaining popular support for carbon-free energy sources is also essential to the energy transition and ensuring carbon-free energy components are recycled rather than dumped in landfills will be crucial to maintaining that support.
The critical role of energy in national security cannot be overstated, and the Department of Defense (DoD), as a substantial energy consumer, is an important player in the carbon-free energy transition. DoD energy requirements, including the need for energy resilience at military installations, may be a tool for advancing new low-carbon energy solutions by creating a market that can reduce costs for more broad-scale commercial deployment of some technologies.
This paper addresses growing and changing U.S. energy needs, examines the many opportunities offered by new carbon-free energy technologies, and examines the environment facing carbon-free energy providers. It then provides an industry analysis of the energy sector
and a review of supply chain issues. Finally, the paper makes a range of recommendations for ensuring the United States can best realize and implement carbon-free energy solutions that support national security and prosperity. In doing so, the paper answers the following question:
How can the United States leverage innovative technology and policy to meet its goals for clean, reliable, cost-effective, and abundant energy to achieve its national security and economic prosperity requirements?
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