FORT POLK, La. — The Honorable Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, visited Fort Polk April 15.
The tour included visits to housing for Soldiers and families, the newly installed $29 million solar energy project and the current and future sites of the Army’s Rotational Unit Billeting Area.
The visit highlighted Fort Polk’s efforts to improve installation quality of life while supporting the Army’s energy resilience and combat readiness goals. Among the priorities were barracks renovations. Since 2010, 34 barracks have been renovated at a cost of $500 million. The initiative aligns with a Department of War task force overseeing departmentwide barracks improvements, which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed last November.
“For far too long, this department has failed too many of our warfighters,” Hegseth said in a Nov. 25 video posted to department social media outlets. “Every member of our joint force deserves housing that is clean, comfortable and safe.”
Gillis saw the renovated barracks firsthand, including upgraded rooms for Soldiers, a lounge area with a pool table and a newly installed laundry room. He also spoke with Soldiers about their quality of life and any concerns they had.
He also toured newly renovated Corvias homes, where improvements include ground-source heat pump installations, hot water system upgrades, smart home controls, electric meter upgrades and new LED lighting.
Gillis then visited Fort Polk’s solar farm and future microgrid site, a $29 million project that provides energy benefits to more than 1,800 homes, supporting affordability, efficiency and reliability. The project is a partnership among Fort Polk, Corvias, CRC Innovations and Onyx Renewables.
“This installation has always been about readiness, not just on the battlefield, but in every aspect of Soldier and family life,” Maj. Gen. Jason A. Curl, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk commanding general, said during the solar farm’s ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 5. “This project is a major step in that endeavor. This new energy capability provides greater independence and resilience to our families to have reliable power, no matter the challenge. It’s an example of innovation and sustainability in action.”
These efforts demonstrate the Army and Fort Polk's continued commitment to improving quality of life for Soldiers and families while enhancing energy efficiency.
| Date Taken: |
04.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
04.16.2026 14:58 |
| Story ID: |
562893 |
| Location: |
LOUISIANA, US |
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