WASHINGTON – The Army received several 2024 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards (FEWMA), recognizing the Army’s significant contributions to energy and water efficiency within the federal government. Established in 1981 by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Interagency Policy Committee, these awards honor federal individuals, groups, and agencies for outstanding contributions toward America’s energy dominance by reducing energy and water waste while saving taxpayer dollars. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) sponsors FEWMA and recognizes achievements in energy and water efficiency, energy and water resilience and cybersecurity, distributed energy generation, and fleet and transportation management.
Nine Army nominations were selected as winners out of 25 total winners spanning eight federal agencies.
“These awardees exemplify the Army’s commitment to innovation and energy reliability. Their work isn’t just about saving resources; it’s about strengthening our readiness and ensuring we can maintain a decisive advantage in any environment,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Dr. Jeff Waksman.
Career Exceptional Award Recipients:
- Melanie Johnson (USACE ERDC-CERL) - Recognized for her pivotal role in shaping the Army's microgrid strategy and securing cybersecurity for early demonstrations, ultimately influencing energy resilience across the Department of Defense.
- William Lucas (AMC JBM-HH) - Recognized for 15 years of dedicated energy management at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, significantly improving efficiency and resilience at critical installations like Arlington National Cemetery and Fort McNair.
- Ryan Hernandez (AMC IMCOM HQ) - Recognized for resourcing appropriate support and securing over $363 million in project funding for IMCOM installations in FY23, while also implementing data visualization tools to optimize energy and water resilience efforts.
Program Award Recipients:
- Minnesota Army National Guard Sustainability Program - Recognized for its strategic approach to energy, water, and waste reduction, resulting in increased resilience, significant cost savings, and a 23% waste diversion rate in FY23.
- U.S Army Garrison Daegu – FEMP Energy and Water Management Program – Recognized for exceeding federal and Army conservation goals, reducing energy consumption by 28% and water usage by 37%, and generating substantial cost savings for the installation.
- U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley Energy Management Program – Recognized for achieving a 15% decrease in energy usage intensity through an energy savings performance contract and comprehensive initiatives that enhanced resilience and operational effectiveness.
Contracting Award Recipient:
- U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley Contract Support in Testing the Emergency Substation Generation Plan - Recognized for innovative contracting methods that enabled successful testing of Fort Riley’s emergency substation generation plan, ensuring continued operation of critical facilities during prolonged power outages and safeguarding the installation from financial losses.
Project Award Recipients:
- U.S. Army Garrison Fort Irwin Cascading Water Use at a Wastewater Treatment Plant - Recognized for implementing a cascading water management system at their wastewater treatment plant, saving over 40 million gallons of potable water and $412,854 in the first year, extending the installation’s water supply and reducing operational costs
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Black Start Exercise Power Reliability Enhancement Program - Received the award for significantly reducing the cost of Black Start Exercises – saving over $3.1 million across FY23 and FY24 – while consistently delivering high-quality, actionable plans to improve energy resilience at military installations.
“The work these teams contribute is critical for the long-term success of our installations and our ability to support our warfighters,” said Brandon Cockrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Sustainability. “Their efforts are a force multiplier, enhancing our operational capabilities and contributing to the efficiency and resiliency of our forces.”
Read more about the winners and their contributions to American energy and water dominance here.
Social Sharing