They may not be ready to paint sunflowers on the sides of their Hummers, but our troops are nonetheless going green. A front page story in today's New York Times describes the US Department of Defense's aggressive efforts to adopt renewable energy, particular solar energy and biofuels.
Their efforts, based on pragmatism and largely free of political and econcomic mischief, contrast sharply with civilian efforts to wean ouselves from fossil fuels.
Since 2006 senior military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have called for a reduced dependence on fossil fuels. As exemplified by the deadly insurgent attacks earlier this week on truck convoys taking fuel to military bases in Afghanistan, these fuels are dangerous and costly to transport. While they buy gas for just over $1 a gallon, getting that gallon to some forward operating bases costs $400.
All branches of the US Military are making serious progress towards tough goals. For example, the Air Force is the largest energy user in the federal government, and it powers many of its bases with some of the largest photovoltaic plants in the world.
Their efforts, based on pragmatism and largely free of political and econcomic mischief, contrast sharply with civilian efforts to wean ouselves from fossil fuels.
Since 2006 senior military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have called for a reduced dependence on fossil fuels. As exemplified by the deadly insurgent attacks earlier this week on truck convoys taking fuel to military bases in Afghanistan, these fuels are dangerous and costly to transport. While they buy gas for just over $1 a gallon, getting that gallon to some forward operating bases costs $400.
All branches of the US Military are making serious progress towards tough goals. For example, the Air Force is the largest energy user in the federal government, and it powers many of its bases with some of the largest photovoltaic plants in the world.
In another example, Navy secretary Ray Mabus wants 50 percent of the power for the Navy and Marines to come from renewable energy sources by 2020.
By comparison, the US Congress is laboring to pass a watered-down Federal energy bill that would require electric utility companies to produce 16 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. It is fiercely-opposed by the utility companies, the US Chamber of Commerce and senators from coal-mining states.
And their money is talking.
The DoD's strategy for the development and deployment of renewable energy stems from a pragmatism that civil America should heed.
Ironically, as military commanders struggled to protect the fuel lines that supplied our troops in Iraq, they were ostensibly in Iraq to secure the Middle Eastern fuel lines which supply our world. Just as our troops are oiled at a large cost in money and lives, we all are paying for our dependence on fossil fuels.
By comparison, the US Congress is laboring to pass a watered-down Federal energy bill that would require electric utility companies to produce 16 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. It is fiercely-opposed by the utility companies, the US Chamber of Commerce and senators from coal-mining states.
And their money is talking.
The DoD's strategy for the development and deployment of renewable energy stems from a pragmatism that civil America should heed.
Ironically, as military commanders struggled to protect the fuel lines that supplied our troops in Iraq, they were ostensibly in Iraq to secure the Middle Eastern fuel lines which supply our world. Just as our troops are oiled at a large cost in money and lives, we all are paying for our dependence on fossil fuels.
Maybe the Pentagon can teach our politicians something about setting informed energy policies.
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