FORT HOOD, Texas – In a significant move towards energy resiliency and modernization, Fort Hood will commission the first 100% battery-powered, zero-emission electric locomotive in the United States Army in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Fort Hood railhead.

The ceremony marks a new era of energy innovation for the U.S. military, aligning with broader national security goals of strengthening critical infrastructure and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The landmark project, a collaboration between the U.S. Army, Dominion Energy, and Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), converts one of the Army’s legacy diesel locomotives into a state-of-the-art electric workhorse. The initiative was funded by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission and represents a major step in enhancing mission capabilities and infrastructure resilience at the installation.

The newly commissioned locomotive is powered by IRT’s advanced ATLAS lithium-ion battery-electric propulsion system. It is capable of pulling heavy-duty military equipment, including Abrams tanks, and can also serve as a mobile power source, providing 2.4 megawatts of backup emergency power. This feature will support operational readiness by providing an additional layer of resiliency to the installation during power outages or emergency events, such as cyber-attacks.

Dominion Energy led the project, selecting Illinois-based Innovative Rail Technologies for its state-of-the-art battery technology. The project was the top-scoring proposal chosen for funding by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission.

The conversion provides a cost-effective solution for modernizing an aged locomotive while advancing the installation’s environmental and community coordination objectives.

Media interested in covering the event should call 254-449-5298 by 3 p.m. Dec. 12. Media should meet the public affairs escort at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the south-side parking lot of the Marvin Leath Visitor Center.