TRANSMISSION EXPANSION

FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE

OVERVIEW
PUBLICATION

The Association of Defense Communities (ADC) and Converge Strategies, LLC (CSL) released “Transmission Expansion For National Defense (TREND) to support conversations, innovation, and opportunities to enhance the U.S. transmission system’s national defense capabilities.

The Value

“Transmission Expansion For National Defense (TREND)” presents concepts to align transmission grid investment with national defense, encouraging dialogue between the electricity industry and the national security enterprise about expanding our nation’s transmission system.

TREND offers next steps and guidance to help utility planners engage military installations and their surrounding communities on power reliability challenges.

The Big Picture

Without rapid and persistent action at the national and regional scales, vulnerabilities to the critical infrastructure systems that support our most crucial needs will soon outpace our ability to address them.

Why It Matters

The conversation between national defense and electricity industry stakeholders remains nascent, particularly as it relates to the transmission system. TREND outlines several near-term mechanisms for aligning transmission grid investment with national defense.

Specific recommendations include: rapidly increasing the grid’s size and flexibility, prioritizing specific upgrades to support defense missions, and equipping the Department of Defense (DoD) to engage more directly with grid planning. Get started by reviewing the guidance for utility planners to engage military installations and their surrounding communities on power reliability challenges.

Our Appreciation

Thank you to the more than 60 experts from across the electricity industry and the national security enterprise for your cooperation and contributions to the concepts in TREND.

Accelerating Transmission Expansion

The U.S. electric power grid is a cornerstone of our national defense and should be viewed as an extension of military missions and weapons platforms. The resilience of our electric power grid is integral to the success of our military’s missions.

Strengthening the Grid for Critical Defense Facilities

Military installations are closely connected to and affected by their surrounding communities. The resilience of the electric power grid for defense communities is vital for DoD’s mission assurance.

Empowering DoD as a Transmission Proponent

There is an opportunity to equip the military with the authority and capability to engage in grid planning. Utilities and grid operators require clear input and engagement from DoD about its energy resilience requirements to support national defense.