On-site microgrid connected assets are foundational to readiness as military installations modernize to support AI-enabled missions.  Military bases must to be equipped with resilient capabilities to respond to physical, cyber and weather threats.   Resilience does not stop at the fence line. Increasingly, valuable microgrid assets — generation, storage, advanced controls — sit behind the fence on federal land while interacting dynamically with the regional utility grid.

This session reframes the traditional “grid-to-fence” model. Federal infrastructure behind the fence is not simply a load to be served; it is an active resilience asset. When designed collaboratively, federal microgrids can:

• Strengthen regional reliability
• Support the community in an emergency
• Minimize costs
• Reduce transmission and distribution upgrade pressures
• Provide grid services through coordinated DER and storage assets
• Enhance cybersecurity posture across interconnected systems

At the same time, many installations must modernize aging behind-the-fence distribution systems to enable islanding, bidirectional power flow, and advanced protection coordination. Without these upgrades, microgrid investments risk being underutilized or misaligned with utility operations.

This session will bring together federal energy leaders and electric utility experts to explore how co-designed systems can maximize resilience, economic efficiency, and mission readiness.

Key Discussion Areas

• Military and utility collaboration for investments in grid modernization
• Modernizing behind-the-fence distribution infrastructure to enable islanding and DER integration
• Protection coordination and controls integration between utility and installation systems
• Hosting high-density loads (AI/data centers) within resilient microgrid frameworks
• Financing and regulatory considerations that align federal authorities with utility cost recovery
• Cybersecurity and operational coordination across interconnected systems