---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2920"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2920"
heading: "Energy resilience and energy security measures on military installations"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2920"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 173 — Energy Security"
  - "Subchapter I — Energy Security Activities"
---

# §2920. Energy resilience and energy security measures on military installations

- (a) **Energy Resilience Measures.—**
  - (1) The Secretary of Defense shall, by the end of fiscal year 2030, provide that 100 percent of the [energy](#h-4) load required to maintain the [critical missions](#h-3) of each [installation](#h-5) have a minimum level of [availability](#h-1) of 99.9 percent per fiscal year.
  - (2) The Secretary of Defense shall issue standards establishing levels of [availability](#h-1) relative to specific [critical missions](#h-3), with such standards providing a [range](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-1) of not less than 99.9 percent [availability](#h-1) per fiscal year and not more than 99.9999 percent [availability](#h-1) per fiscal year, depending on the criticality of the mission.
  - (3) The Secretary may establish interim goals to take effect prior to fiscal year 2025 to ensure the requirements under this subsection are met.
  - (4) The Secretary of each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and the head of each [Defense Agency](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) shall ensure that their organizations meet the requirements of this subsection.
  - (5) The Secretary shall establish internal processes to support coordination with external regulatory and planning entities involved in grid reliability, transmission infrastructure, and long-term [energy](#h-4) planning, in order to assess and mitigate risks to defense-critical [installations](#h-5), advance the [energy security](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-7) objectives of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), and comply with statutory mandates under this section.
  - (6) Coordination under [paragraph (5)](#a-5)—
    - (A) shall include identification of mission-critical loads and infrastructure dependencies and load profiles at or near [military installations](/usc/10/183a.md?p=h-7); and
    - (B) may include consultation with relevant Federal and non-Federal entities.
- (b) **Planning.—**
  - (1) The Secretary of Defense shall require the Secretary of each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and the head of each [Defense Agency](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) to plan for the provision of [energy resilience](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-6) and [energy security](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-7) for [installations](#h-5).
  - (2) Planning under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall—
    - (A) promote the use of multiple and diverse sources of [energy](#h-4), with an emphasis favoring [energy](#h-4) resources originating on the [installation](#h-5) such as modular generation;
    - (B) promote installing microgrids to ensure the [energy security](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-7) and [energy resilience](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-6) of [critical missions](#h-3); and
    - (C) favor the use of full-time, installed [energy](#h-4) sources rather than emergency generation.
- (c) **Development of Information.—** The planning required by [subsection (b)](#b) shall identify each of the following for each [installation](#h-5):
  - (1) The [critical missions](#h-3) of the [installation](#h-5).
  - (2) The [energy](#h-4) requirements of those [critical missions](#h-3).
  - (3) The duration that those [energy](#h-4) requirements are likely to be needed in the event of a disruption or emergency.
  - (4) The current source of [energy](#h-4) provided to those [critical missions](#h-3).
  - (5) The duration that the currently provided [energy](#h-4) would likely be available in the event of a disruption or emergency.
  - (6) Any currently available sources of [energy](#h-4) that would provide uninterrupted [energy](#h-4) to [critical missions](#h-3) in the event of a disruption or emergency.
  - (7) Alternative sources of [energy](#h-4) that could be developed to provide uninterrupted [energy](#h-4) to [critical missions](#h-3) in the event of a disruption or emergency.
- (d) **Testing and Measuring.—**
  - (1)
    - (A) The Secretary of Defense shall require the Secretary of each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and head of each [Defense Agency](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) to conduct monitoring, measuring, and testing to provide the data necessary to comply with this section.
    - (B) Any data provided under [subparagraph (A)](#d-1-A) shall be made available to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment upon request.
  - (2)
    - (A) The Secretary of Defense shall require that [black start exercises](#h-2) be conducted to assess the [energy resilience](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-6) and [energy security](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-7) of [installations](#h-5) for periods established to evaluate the ability of the [installation](#h-5) to perform [critical missions](#h-3) without access to off-[installation](#h-5) [energy](#h-4) resources.
    - (B) A [black start exercise](#h-2) conducted under [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A) may exclude, if technically feasible, housing areas, commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare, and recreation [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2).
    - (C) The Secretary of Defense shall—
      - (i) provide uniform policy for the [military departments](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-8) and the [Defense Agencies](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) with respect to conducting [black start exercises](#h-2); and
      - (ii) establish a schedule of [black start exercises](#h-2) for the [military departments](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-8) and the [Defense Agencies](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11), with each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) and [Defense Agency](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) scheduled to conduct such an exercise on a number of [installations](#h-5) each year sufficient to allow that military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) or [Defense Agency](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) to meet the goals of this section, but in any event not fewer than five [installations](#h-5) each year for each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) through fiscal year 2032.
    - (D)
      - (i) Except as provided in [clause (ii)](#d-2-D-ii), the Secretary of each military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, conduct [black start exercises](#h-2) in accordance with the schedule provided for in [subparagraph (C)(ii)](#d-2-C-ii), with any such exercise not to last longer than five days.
      - (ii) The Secretary of a military [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) may conduct more [black start exercises](#h-2) than those identified in the schedule provided for in [subparagraph (C)(ii)](#d-2-C-ii).
- (e) **Contract Requirements.—** For contracts for [energy](#h-4) and utility services, the Secretary of Defense shall—
  - (1) specify methods and processes to measure, manage, and verify compliance with [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (2) ensure that such contracts include requirements appropriate to ensure [energy resilience](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-6) and [energy security](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-7), including requirements for metering to measure, manage, and verify [energy](#h-4) consumption, [availability](#h-1), and reliability consistent with this section and the [energy resilience](/usc/10/101.md?p=f-6) metrics and standards under [section 2911(b) of this title](/usc/10/2911.md?p=b).
- (f) **Exception.—** This section does not apply to fuels used in aircraft, vessels, or motor vehicles.
- (g) **Report.—** If by the end of fiscal year 2027, the Secretary determines that the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) will be unable to meet the requirements under [subsection (a)](#a), not later than 90 days after the end of such fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report detailing—
  - (1) the projected shortfall;
  - (2) reasons for the projected shortfall;
  - (3) any statutory, technological, or monetary impediments to achieving such requirements;
  - (4) any impact to readiness or ability to meet the national defense posture; and
  - (5) any other relevant information as the Secretary considers appropriate.
- (h) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) The term “availability” means the availability of required [energy](#h-4) at a stated instant of time or over a stated period of time for a specific purpose.
  - (2) The term “black start exercise” means an exercise in which [delivery](/usc/10/8697.md?p=d-2) of [energy](#h-4) provided from off an [installation](#h-5) is terminated before backup generation assets on the [installation](#h-5) are turned on. Such an exercise shall—
    - (A) determine the ability of the backup systems to start independently, transfer the load, and carry the load until [energy](#h-4) from off the [installation](#h-5) is restored;
    - (B) align organizations with [critical missions](#h-3) to coordinate in meeting [critical mission](#h-3) requirements;
    - (C) validate mission operation plans, such as continuity of operations plans;
    - (D) identify infrastructure interdependencies; and
    - (E) verify backup electric power system performance.
  - (3) The term “critical mission”—
    - (A) means those aspects of the missions of an [installation](#h-5), including mission essential operations, that are critical to successful performance of the strategic national defense mission;
    - (B) may include operational headquarters [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), airfields and supporting infrastructure, harbor [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2) supporting naval vessels, munitions production and storage [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), missile fields, radars, satellite control [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), cyber operations [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), space launch [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), operational communications [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), and biological defense [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2); and
    - (C) does not include military housing (including privatized military housing), morale, welfare, and recreation [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2), exchanges, commissaries, or privately owned [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2).
  - (4) The term “energy” means electricity, natural gas, steam, chilled water, and heated water.
  - (5) The term “installation” has the meaning given the term “[military installation](/usc/10/183a.md?p=h-7)” in [section 2801(c)(4) of this title](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-4).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title III, § 316(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3516; amended Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title III, §§ 313, 314(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1851; Pub. L. 119–60, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2847, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1319.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 119–60 added pars. (5) and (6).

2024—Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 118–159, § 313, substituted “2032” for “2027”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 118–159, § 314(a), substituted “2027” for “2029” in introductory provisions.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Pilot Program on Procurement of Utility Services for Installations of the Department of Defense Through Areawide Contracts

Pub. L. 119–60, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2888, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1332, provided that: Pilot Program Required.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec 18, 2025], the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program (in this section referred to as the ‘pilot program’) for the purposes of procuring utility services through an areawide contract with a public utility provider for any utility services that support energy resilience and mission readiness of a military installation. Deadline for Contracts.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of each military department shall enter into at least one areawide contract with a public utility provider pursuant to the pilot program. Public-private Partnerships.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program by entering into one or more public-private partnerships through an areawide contract entered into under the pilot program. Competition.—In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall, in accordance with part 6.302 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, develop— a justification and approval template to be used by all acquisition commands of the military departments when entering into an areawide contract pursuant to the pilot program; and a process for granting waivers with respect to the requirements of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation. Termination Date.—The authority of the Secretary of Defense to carry out the pilot program shall terminate on the date that is one year after the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot program. Reporting Requirement.—Not later than 90 days after the date on which the pilot program is terminated pursuant to subsection (e), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that includes— an analysis of the pilot program, including any efficiencies, benefits, and cost-savings associated with utilizing areawide contracts under the pilot program to procure utility services from a public utility provider; and proposed solutions, including recommended legislative text and modifications to the Federal Acquisition Regulation or policy guidance of the Department of Defense, to overcome any remaining legal and policy hurdles that the Secretary identifies as inhibiting adherence to and implementation of section 2811(b) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (division B of Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 2920 note). Definitions.—In this section: The terms ‘areawide contract’, ‘energy resilience’, and ‘utility service’ have the meanings given such terms in section 2811(b)(3) of such Act. The term ‘military installation’ has the meaning given such term in section 2801 of title 10, United States Code.”

### Department of Defense Infrastructure Resilience and Readiness

Pub. L. 118–31, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2811(b), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 748, provided that: Authority.—The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the military department concerned may utilize existing areawide contracts to procure utility services from a utility service supplier— to support installation energy resilience and mission readiness; for the protection of critical infrastructure of the Department of Defense located at a military installation; and to achieve energy resilience at military installations through implementation of utility system infrastructure projects, to include facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization of such infrastructure. Sunset.—The authority under this subsection shall terminate on September 30, 2032. Definitions.—In this section: Areawide contract.—The term ‘areawide contract’ means a contract entered into between the General Services Administration and a utility service supplier under section 501 of title 40, United States Code, to procure the utility service needs of Federal agencies within the franchise territory of the supplier. Energy resilience.—The term ‘energy resilience’ has the meaning given the term in section 101(e) of title 10, United States Code. Franchise territory.—The term ‘franchise territory’ means a geographical area that a utility service supplier has a right to serve based upon a franchise granted by an independent regulatory body, a certificate of public convenience and necessity, or other legal means. Utility service.—The term ‘utility service’— means a utility or service described in section 2872a(b) of title 10, United States Code; includes the services supplied by a utility service supplier described in an areawide contract such as connection, change, disconnection, continue service, line extension, alteration or relocation, metering, and special facilities, including primary generation, backup generation, microgrid controls, charging capabilities, and any supporting infrastructure; and includes ancillary services, including total maintenance and repair, major restoration and repair, studies, and any other services, as appropriate. Utility service supplier.—The term ‘utility service supplier’ means an entity that supplies a utility service. Utility system.—The term ‘utility system’ has the meaning given the term in subsections (i)(1)(A) and (i)(2)(A) of section 2688 of title 10, United States Code.”