Sec. 376. Improvement of the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund of the Department of Defense
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The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment shall exercise authority, direction, and control over the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund of the Department of Defense (in this section referred to as the OECIF ). Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall realign the OECIF under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, with such realignment to include personnel positions adequate for the mission of the OECIF.
The Assistant Secretary shall ensure that the placement under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of the OECIF along with the Strategic Environmental Research Program, the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, and the Operational Energy Prototyping Program is utilized to advance common goals of the Department, promote organizational synergies, and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. Commencing not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, shall carry out a program for the demonstration of technologies related to operational energy prototyping, including demonstration of operational energy technology and validation prototyping.
The Secretary shall ensure that the program under paragraph
(1)operates in conjunction with the OECIF to promote the transfer of innovative technologies that have successfully established proof of concept for use in production or in the field. In carrying out the program under paragraph
(1)the Secretary shall— identify and demonstrate the most promising, innovative, and cost-effective technologies and methods that address high-priority operational energy requirements of the Department of Defense; in conducting demonstrations under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall— collect cost and performance data to overcome barriers against employing an innovative technology because of concerns regarding technical or programmatic risk; and ensure that components of the Department have time to establish new requirements where necessary and plan, program, and budget for technology transition to programs of record; utilize project structures similar to those of the OECIF to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the efforts conducted under the program; and give priority, in conjunction with the OECIF, to the development and fielding of clean technologies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In carrying out the program under paragraph
(1)the Secretary shall develop and utilize a tool to track relevant investments in operational energy from applied research to transition to use to ensure user organizations have the full picture of technology maturation and development. The tool developed and utilized under subparagraph
(A)shall be designed to overcome transition challenges with rigorous and well-documented demonstrations that provide the information needed by all stakeholders for acceptance of the technology. The Secretary shall carry out the testing and evaluation phase of the program under paragraph
(1)at installations of the Department of Defense or in conjunction with exercises conducted by the Joint Staff, a combatant command, or a military department. The Secretary shall carry out any formal demonstrations under the program under paragraph
(1)at installations of the Department or in operational settings to document and validate improved warfighting performance and cost savings.