Army Awarded Energy Leases for Six Installations

Private developers will fund, build, and operate energy projects on U.S. Army bases to boost defense resilience.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Military Jobs

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of steel transmission towers and solar panels representing military energy infrastructure, in deep red and cream. — The U.S. Army has finalized long-term leases for on-site energy generation across six bases, shifting infrastructure costs to private energy developers. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The U.S. Army has awarded long-term land leases to Ameresco, Indelible-Bloom, and Frontier Power USA for on-site energy generation projects. The initiative covers six military installations and requires private developers to cover all project costs.

Why it matters

This move shifts the full financial burden of energy infrastructure construction and maintenance to the private sector while aiming to bolster military defense and energy resilience. By securing backup power on-site, the Army seeks to ensure operational continuity regardless of grid stability.

Developers bear 100% of costs for design, construction, and decommissioning across six military installations. One Aberdeen Proving Ground project includes a 390 MWe reactor design capacity.

The players

Ameresco

An energy efficiency and renewable energy company that manages large-scale infrastructure projects.

Indelible-Bloom

A private development firm involved in specialized energy infrastructure initiatives.

Frontier Power USA

A power development company focused on utility-scale energy projects and infrastructure.

The details

The Army retains land title while developers pay rent through in-kind infrastructure improvements. Mandatory decommissioning bonds are required to ensure the land can be returned to its original condition. Eligibility for these projects was restricted to firms organized under U.S. law with majority domestic ownership.

Developer-led on-site construction is slated to begin as early as 2027.
Initial Operating Capability is targeted for or ahead of 2030.

Market Landscape

This development follows the strategic priorities established by the U.S. Department of Defense Installation Energy Plan to minimize reliance on local civilian grids. It mirrors an industry-wide trend of private-public partnerships intended to modernize aging infrastructure on federal properties.

Contractors and firms operating in the energy sector should monitor future site-specific requests for proposal as these initial projects break ground. Businesses involved in land development or utility infrastructure must account for new, strict decommissioning bond requirements.

The takeaway

The Army is delegating critical energy infrastructure development to private firms to offload capital expenditures and risk. Operators should track the 2027 construction start date to identify potential supply chain and sub-contracting opportunities at the six named base locations.