DoD Leading on Renewables, Energy Security
Yesterday, the Defense Department announced the results of its Renewable Energy Project Review, undertaken to determine the impact of renewable energy use on military missions, and the results are very promising. Of the 249 projects under consideration (including wind turbines and solar power, to be undertaken in 35 states and Puerto Rico), 229 would have little or no negative impact on missions. These projects, which will produce more than 10 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, are great news for both the military and the country. For the military,
“These new energy projects will increase the nation’s energy security while ensuring that our military services have the test capabilities, training venues, and equipment to help keep America safe.”
Our nation’s servicemen and women know all too well the price that our nation has paid for continued reliance on fossil fuels. According to Rocky Mountain Institute’s Amory Lovins, over 1000 soldiers have been killed simply transporting fuel, deaths that could have been avoided with renewable energy use. Furthermore, the DoD pays a staggering $2 billion every day in direct fuel costs. The costs, both human and monetary, associated with fueling military equipment directly affect the success of our missions in the Middle East. The military is acutely aware of its need to find reliable sources of fuel that do not affect readiness and are not vulnerable to sabotage, and the Renewable Energy Project Review demonstrates definitive action on this issue.
For American civilians, these projects mean new jobs: “green” sector jobs that will improve military readiness abroad while building our economy at home.
Defense Department investment in renewable energy projects is an important step toward protecting our military personnel abroad, improving readiness, and promoting clean and reliable fuel sources that can drive sustainable economic growth. Energy is one of the tremendous security challenges our nation will face this century, and the DoD is providing excellent leadership by investing in renewable sources of energy.
