The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Department of the Air Force (DAF) have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to investigate optimal practices for joint energy resilience planning between DAF installations and EEI member companies.

According to an EEI press release, the MOU establishes a framework through which EEI and DAF will work together to identify opportunities that align with the shared energy goals of the DAF, its servicing electric companies, and nearby communities.

The press release from EEI also highlighted that the institute’s member electric companies have a history of partnering with the DAF. The new MOU aims to leverage these relationships to foster discussions on ways to enhance energy resilience, emergency operations, and electric infrastructure.

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Energy, Installations, and Environment), Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, expressed his thoughts in the press release. "Ensuring our installations have resilient, reliable access to electricity is critical to the DAF’s ability to remain combat-ready in Great Power Competition," said Chaudhary. "But this is an all-hands-on-deck endeavor for the nation, and it takes a village—partnerships like these help us mitigate threats both within and outside the fence line to retain our competitive edge. I am excited for the opportunity to collaborate on innovative solutions that benefit our bases and surrounding communities alike."

In addition, EEI President and CEO Dan Brouillette underscored in the press release that "the U.S. military is one of the largest electricity customers in the nation. Our partnership with the Department of the Air Force is vital to strengthening energy security and grid resilience and lays the foundation for joint energy resilience planning."