DOE Releases Asset Revitalization Initiative (ARI) Task Force Report to Congress

Published: Mon, 08/29/11

Today, DOE's Asset Revitalization Initiative (ARI) Task Force released its report to Congress, which was required by the Energy Parks Legislation included in section 3124 of the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act. Local governments, communities, and ECA have been focused on promoting Energy Parks for the past few years. Last year, local governments and ECA worked to get the Energy Parks legislation passed.

As stated in the legislation, the main goals of Energy Parks are:

1. To provide locations to carry out a broad range of projects relating to the development and deployment of energy technologies and related advanced manufacturing technologies.

2. To provide locations for the implementation of pilot programs and demonstration projects for new and developing energy technologies and related advanced manufacturing technologies.

3. To set a national example for the development and deployment of energy technologies and related advanced manufacturing technologies in a manner that will promote energy security, energy sector employment, and energy independence.

4. To create a business environment that encourages collaboration and interaction between the public and private sectors.

The legislation requires the Secretary of Energy to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services on the implementation of an energy parks program at DOE. The report should include recommendations for additional legislative actions the Secretary considers appropriate to facilitate the development of energy parks on former defense nuclear facilities.

Shortly after the legislation was passed, in January 2011, DOE established the Asset Revitalization Initiative (ARI) Task Force to fulfill the requirement to establish an Energy Parks program. DOE wanted to establish a program that would include all types of future uses for DOE property, not just Energy Parks, so they used the term Asset Revitalization Initiative. Energy Parks are considered one type of "reutilization" under the ARI program.

The ARI Task Force has been working closely with local governments, communities, and ECA to develop this report to Congress. The report includes an appendix of site specific Energy Parks projects and visions. This list was collected and edited by ECA. The ARI Task Force has also been working to develop a set of recommendations for the three DOE Under Secretaries. ECA has provided input for this report, and it is expected to be released in the next few months.

The report can be found on LM's website.