The Defense Department has unveiled plans to install solar panels on the iconic Pentagon, as part of the Biden administration's commitment to promoting clean energy and establishing the federal government as a leader in sustainability. The $104 million initiative, funded by Energy Department grants, aims to double the amount of carbon-free electricity at federal facilities, generating 27 megawatts of clean-energy capacity and leveraging over $361 million in private investment.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, and Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, made the announcement at the Pentagon. Alongside solar panels, the Pentagon will implement a heat pump system and solar thermal panels to reduce reliance on natural gas and fuel oil combustion systems, enhancing overall energy resilience and reliability.

Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of Defense for energy, installations, and environment, emphasized the importance of energy in military operations, stating that the solar panels would provide an uninterrupted power source during cyberattacks or other outages to the bulk grid, while also reducing strain on the building's power load. Given the Pentagon's relatively congested airspace, solar panels emerged as the optimal choice for clean energy, and officials will collaborate with local authorities to meet all requirements for the nationally registered historic landmark.

This initiative is part of the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) program, included in the 2021 infrastructure law. The projects align with President Biden's executive order, aiming for a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from federal operations by 2030 and a net-zero building portfolio by 2045.

Source: apnews.com