A bill to require the Government Accountability Office to study the expenses incurred by the Pentagon to meet its renewable energy  and energy efficiency mandates.

Bill: 113-s-1928
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2014-01-15
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources

Congressional oversight

Energy prices

Energy research

Energy storage, supplies, demand

Government studies and investigations

Military facilities and property

Military procurement, research, weapons development

Research and development
Latest action: action_date: 2014-01-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-01-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to: (1) review Department of Defense (DOD) programs and organizations related to, and resourcing of, renewable energy research, development, and investment in pursuit of meeting mandated renewable energy goals for DOD facilities; (2) specify programs, costs, and estimated and expected savings; and (3) report to Congress with descriptions of current renewable energy initiatives and resulting savings, assessments of coordination and challenges, and recommendations regarding the need for a new DOD energy strategy.</p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 1928 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 15, 2014 Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Crapo , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Roberts , Mr. Enzi , Mr. Coburn , Mr. Chambliss , Mr. Flake , and Ms. Murkowski ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require the Government Accountability Office to study the expenses incurred by the Pentagon to meet its renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates.

1. Comptroller General study of Department of Defense research, development, and investment to meet the requirements of renewable energy goals (a) Study required The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of Department of Defense programs and organizations related to, and resourcing of, renewable energy research, development, and investment in pursuit of meeting the renewable energy goals set forth in section 2911(e) of title 10, United States Code, by Executive order, and through related legislative mandates. This review shall specify specific programs, costs, and estimated and expected savings of the programs. (b) Report Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the review conducted under subsection (a), including the following elements: (1) A description of current Department of Defense renewable energy research initiatives throughout the Department of Defense, by military service, including the use of any renewable energy source as specified in section 2911(e)(2) of title 10, United States Code. These descriptions shall include the total dollars spent to date, the estimated total cost of each program, and the estimated lifetime of each program. (2) A description of current Department of Defense renewable energy development initiatives throughout the Department of Defense, by military service, including the use of any renewable energy source as specified in section 2911(e)(2) of title 10, United States Code. These descriptions shall include the total dollars spent to date, the estimated total cost of each program, and the estimated lifetime of each program. (3) A description of current Department of Defense renewable energy investment initiatives throughout the Department of Defense, by military service, including the use of any renewable energy source as specified in section 2911(e)(2) of title 10, United States Code. These descriptions will include the total dollars spent to date, the estimated total cost of the program, and the estimated lifetime of the program. (4) A description of the estimated and expected savings of each of the programs described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), including a comparison of the renewable energy cost to the current cost of conventional energy sources, as well as a comparison of the renewable energy cost to the average energy cost for the previous 10 years. (5) An assessment of the adequacy of the coordination by the Department of Defense of planning for renewable energy projects with consideration for savings realized for dollars invested and the capitalization costs of such investments. (6) An assessment of the adequacy of the coordination by the Department of Defense among the service branches and the Department of Defense as a whole, and whether or not the Department of Defense has a cost-effective, capabilities-based, and coordinated renewable energy research, development, and investment strategy. (7) An assessment of the programmatic, organizational, and resource challenges and gaps faced by the Department of Defense in optimizing research, development, and investment in renewable energy initiatives. (8) Recommendations regarding the need for a new energy strategy for the Department of Defense that provides the Department with the energy supply required to meet all the needs and capabilities of the Armed Forces in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. (c) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.