The Director's Column

November 11, 2003

Typical headlines that we have been seeing in the news lately are:

• "Hurricane Isabel Batters the East Coast; Federal Government Shut Down"
  
  
• "Massive Blackout Shuts Down New York City"
  
  
• "Natural Gas Prices Expected to Remain High"
  
  
• "Bills to Rise as Mercury Drops"
  
  
• "Electrical Grid Vulnerable to Hackers, Viruses"
  
  

Federal agencies throughout the nation are subject to electrical system blackouts, price hikes, and energy system vulnerabilities. We have been assessing the situation and are developing and implementing smart energy management solutions that will increase our energy security and reduce our exposure.

In this issue of the FEMP Focus, you can read about Federal agencies' smart energy management solutions:

• Dr. Get Moy, Director, Utilities and Energy Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment), discusses how the Department of Defense tackles such issues as the security of the utility infrastructure, the role of distributed generation and renewable energy, and strategies for dealing with fluctuations in energy prices.
  
  
• The U.S. Marine Corps base at Twentynine Palms, CA, implemented distributed generation using renewables and combined heat and power systems to increase energy security, reduce costs, and save energy.
  
  
• The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have launched the Laboratories for the 21st Century program to improve the energy and environmental performance of our nation's laboratories.
  
  
• We in the federal government continue to lead by example in energy management and we celebrate our success with ENERGY STAR® labels, Showcase designations, and DOE awards.

For all of you who attended Energy 2003 in Orlando, Florida, thank you. We had an outstanding workshop and exposition. The speakers gave excellent, substantive presentations in well-attended sessions. The exhibits were varied, informative, and extensive. We were all energized!

Finally, I am looking forward to our annual Federal Energy and Water Management Awards Ceremony in October. Each year, I am impressed by the excellent work that you are doing, not just here in the United States, but around the world as well. You are truly leading by example.

Beth Shearer, Director
Federal Energy Managemen Program