Summary
The Department of Defense (DOD) relies heavily on petroleum-based fuel to sustain its forward-deployed locations--particularly those that are not connected to local power grids. While weapon platforms require large amounts of fuel, DOD reports that the single largest battlefield fuel consumer is generators, which provide power for base support activities such as cooling, heating, and lighting. Transporting fuel to forward-deployed locations presents an enormous logistics burden and risk, including exposing fuel truck convoys to attack. GAO was asked to address DOD's (1) efforts to reduce fuel demand at forward-deployed locations and (2) approach to managing fuel demand at these locations. This review focused on locations within Central Command's area of responsibility. GAO visited DOD locations in Kuwait and Djibouti to learn about fuel reduction efforts and challenges facing these locations.
DOD components have some efforts under way or planned to reduce fuel demand at forward-deployed locations. Many of these efforts are in a research and development phase, and the extent to which they will be fielded and under what time frame is uncertain. Notable efforts include the application of foam insulation to tent structures, the development of more fuel-efficient generators and environmental control units, and research on alternative and renewable energy sources for potential use at forward-deployed locations. In addition, during visits to Kuwait and Djibouti, GAO met with officials about local camp efforts aimed at reducing fuel demand. DOD lacks an effective approach for implementing fuel reduction initiatives and maintaining sustained attention to fuel demand management at its forward-deployed locations. Moreover, DOD faces difficulty achieving its goals to reduce dependence on petroleum-based fuel and its logistics "footprint," as well as operating costs associated with high fuel usage, because managing fuel demand at forward-deployed locations has not been a departmental priority and fuel reduction efforts have not been well coordinated or comprehensive. GAO found that DOD's current approach to managing fuel demand lacks (1) guidance directing locations to address fuel demand, (2) incentives and a viable funding mechanism to invest in fuel reduction projects, and (3) visibility and accountability for achieving fuel reduction. Although it may not be practical for DOD to decrease fuel usage at every forward-deployed location and base commanders must place their highest priority on meeting mission requirements, fuel demand is likely to remain high until the department gives systematic consideration to incorporating fuel demand in construction, maintenance, procurement, and other policy decisions for forward-deployed locations. The 2009 defense authorization act requires DOD to establish a director of operational energy and an energy strategy, providing the department with an opportunity to increase attention on improving fuel demand management.
Recommendations
Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.
Director:
Team:
Phone:
William M. Solis
Government Accountability Office: Defense Capabilities and Management
(202) 512-8365
Recommendations for Executive Action
Recommendation: To establish an effective approach to managing fuel demand that would facilitate the widespread implementation of fuel reduction intitiatives and sustained attention to fuel demand issues at its forward-deployed locations, the Secretary of Defense should direct the combatant commanders, in consultation with their military service component commands, to establish requirements for managing fuel demand at forward-deployed locations within their areas of responsibility and provide specific guidelines as appropriate. Officials may wish to consider identifying a triggering mechanism in the guidance, such as a specific length of time after a location is established, when fuel demand management should become a consideration in forward-deployed location sustainability. In establishing requirements, the combatant commanders should coordinate their efforts with the new DOD Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs to ensure departmentwide communication and consistency, where appropriate.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To establish an effective approach to managing fuel demand that would facilitate the widespread implementation of fuel reduction intitiatives and sustained attention to fuel demand issues at its forward-deployed locations, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps to develop guidance that implements combatant command requirements for managing fuel demand at forward-deployed locations. The guidance should include specific guidelines that address energy-efficiency considerations in base construction, maintenance, procurement, and policies regarding fuel usage at a location. In establishing guidance, the military services should coordinate their efforts with the new DOD Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs to ensure departmentwide communication and consistency, where appropriate.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To establish an effective approach to managing fuel demand that would facilitate the widespread implementation of fuel reduction intitiatives and sustained attention to fuel demand issues at its forward-deployed locations, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, to require that fuel demand considerations be incorporated into the Joint Staff's initiative to develop joint standards of life support at DOD's forward-deployed locations.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To establish an effective approach to managing fuel demand that would facilitate the widespread implementation of fuel reduction intitiatives and sustained attention to fuel demand issues at its forward-deployed locations, the Secretary of Defense should designate the new, congressionally-mandated DOD Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs as the department's lead proponent of fuel demand management at forward-deployed locations, and through this designation, require that the director develop action plans as part of the congressionally-mandated DOD energy strategy. Specifically, the strategy should incorporate the department's action plans for (1) facilitating departmentwide communication and consistency, when appropriate, in the development or revision of combatant command and military service guidance that establishes requirements and provides guidelines for managing fuel demand at forward-deployed locations (2) establishing incentives for commanders of forward-deployed locations to promote fuel demand reduction at their locations, as well as identifying a viable funding mechanism for the department and commanders of forward-deployed locations to pursue fuel reduction initiatives (3) establishing visibility over fuel demand management at forward-deployed locations, including plans for sharing good fuel reduction practices and solutions to identified challenges and (4) establishing accountability for fuel demand management at appropriate levels across the department.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: To establish an effective approach to managing fuel demand that would facilitate the widespread implementation of fuel reduction intitiatives and sustained attention to fuel demand issues at its forward-deployed locations, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to assign their senior energy officials, among their other duties, responsibility for overseeing fuel demand management at forward-deployed locations operated by their military department components. In carrying out this responsibility, the officials should identify and promote sharing of good fuel reduction practices and solutions to identified fuel demand challenges at their component's forward-deployed locations and communicate those practices and solutions to the DOD Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs for potential use across the department.
Agency Affected: Department of Defense
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
