Mission Critical Energy Investments Can Be a Boon for American Energy Dominance

Nick Loris wrote for the National Interest about how the DOD can help drive breakthroughs in nuclear energy.

The Department of Defense’s (DOD) investments in mission-critical technologies have helped catalyze some of America’s largest technological breakthroughs, with significant positive spillovers for the economy. The internet, GPS, and the modern semiconductor industry all trace back to defense agencies developing tools to meet specific national security needs. The Navy’s nuclear propulsion program for submarines and surface ships transformed what military operations could achieve, and that success became the foundation for the commercial civilian nuclear industry.

The Pentagon could play a similar role across a wide range of innovative energy technologies, from next-generation nuclear and geothermal power to long-duration storage. The benefits won’t be limited to a more energy-secure, resilient national defense. It could meaningfully catalyze the deployment of affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy for American households and businesses. 

Read the full piece here!