Publisher's Synopsis
The current state of the energy grid in the United States is a threat not only to energy production and way of life but also to our national security. Currently the energy infrastructure is extremely vulnerable, not resilient, and susceptible to a host of physical and cyber attacks. In the event of a major attack against the United States, the energy grid would be a vulnerable and important target that might cripple our military capacity to project forces. In addition to the threat that is posed by a fragile energy grid, the military is also under pressure from the senior decision and policy makers to use more renewable energy. With more than 30 presidential mandates having been imposed on the Army, significant funding cuts, and a strategic objective to have secure and reliable energy from renewable sources, the Army must have a defensible and transparent investment strategy and a means to assess economic and non-economic value of energy investments. Unfortunately, there are insufficient funds for resourcing renewable energy projects focused solely on energy security. This study attempts to use multi objective decision analysis and data envelopment analysis to evaluate value as a function of life cycle costs of different energy security measures and renewable energy for military installations. We used a portfolio approach in an effort to capture both the true costs and to develop technology feasible alternatives. This study will propose methods, processes, and tools for the decision makers to compare the portfolios' value and cost effectiveness. This paper will culminate in a demonstration of the methodology to illustrate its' utility.
