The Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) hosted the 8th National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Site Sustainability Summit from June 4 through June 6 to highlight and advance sustainability and resilience across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. This year’s Summit was a collaborative effort among the NNSA Enterprise Sustainability Division, NNSS, and Nevada Field Office in partnership with NNSA sites, DOE sites, and others. The Summit brought together sustainability, fleet, and infrastructure managers from across the Enterprise to address the latest sustainability policies and direction, share ideas, and propose solutions to advance sustainability and resilience in support of the mission.
“Sustainability and resilience are important to the longevity of the enduring mission,” said NNSA Deputy Associate Administrator for Enterprise Stewardship Greg Hatchett. “It is paramount that we make significant and early investments today to support our current and future mission.”
The Summit was comprised of three action-packed days in Southern Nevada. Day one focused on Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) and charging infrastructure. NNSA is transitioning its 6,200-vehicle fleet to ZEVs as vehicles come to market and is expanding its charging infrastructure. To meet Executive Order (EO) 14057’s fleet goals of 100% ZEV acquisitions by 2035, NNSA must lean into the challenge and halt the lease/purchase of internal-combustion-engine vehicles, provided there is a suitable ZEV alternative. Charging infrastructure must be installed to support the ZEVs, ideally before acceptance of the ZEVs. To support a cooperative approach to fleet electrification, NNSA is developing a ZEV Strategic Plan and interim safety guidance for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Day two featured a 10-hour tour of the Nevada National Security Site, during which participants witnessed numerous projects, including: the Tweezer Substation and Solar Field; NNSS Clean Energy Initiative site; and the Principal Underground Laboratory Subcritical Experiments (PULSE) facility. Participants also observed fleet operations and visited historical sites.
“The NNSS is optimally suited for solar, and the current and planned NNSS solar projects are impressive,” said NNSA Enterprise Sustainability Division Director Jessica Arcidiacono. “The tour clearly explained critical NNSS mission scope as well as how the Site has prioritized sustainability initiatives.”
In 2018, the NNSS debuted its Mercury solar array powering Mercury Fire Station #1, NNSA’s net-zero facility. As of 2023 there are 17 sustainable federal buildings at the NNSS. Additionally, the NNSS’s 2040 master plan includes modern facilities with sustainable footprints, infrastructure upgrades to support electric vehicles, and continued studies to monitor water usage and encourage conservation.
Day three highlighted E.O. 14057 goals for carbon pollution-free electricity, net-zero emissions buildings, net-zero emissions procurement, climate resilience, and Energy Performance Contracts, as well as NNSA’s sustainability results and opportunities to advance sustainability and resilience. For example, NNSA is building the next generation of facilities to net-zero ready design standards and retrofitting existing buildings. Greater efficiency combined with onsite storage, generation, and decarbonization will make NNSA’s buildings more resilient to disruptions and will reduce NNSA’s climate footprint.
“As we modernize the Nuclear Security Enterprise to meet mission needs, we have both an opportunity and an obligation to lead by example to leverage our portfolio of buildings, vehicles, and purchasing power to help make our enterprise more efficient, sustainable, and resilient to a changing climate,” said Arcidiacono.
