INSIGHT
RESILIENT , SUSTAINABLE AND adequate sources of energy are key elements of the energy strategy of the US armed forces . In recent years , that kind of fuel includes renewable energy . While environmental issues may not necessarily be the main driving forces for the US Department of Defense ( DoD ) when it comes to energy , the US military , the country ’ s major institutional energy consumer , acknowledges that renewable energy is often safer than fossil fuels in meeting its needs .
The US military consumes over 100mn barrels of oil per year , which leaves troops exposed to enemy attacks . Besides , vulnerability of oil prices and a potential rise in global oil demand raises concerns within the DoD regarding its ability to access reliable fuel sources during its critical missions .
Many military leaders admit that climate change poses national and international security threats , contributing to more social , political and economic instability of vulnerable countries and necessitating troop deployments . The military sees climate change as an accelerant of global conflicts . In practical terms , DoD realises that an over-reliance on fossil fuels could undermine its resilience during a power grid failure or reduce its fighting capability if energy supplies are compromised at the time of war .
“ The military recognises the importance of renewable energy in achieving their missions in more effective ways ,” says Galen Nelson , Director of Innovation at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center , who collaborates with military leaders in the Bay State on clean energy projects . “ Military leaders are committed to incorporating clean energy into their assets , not least because the cost of renewable energy has come down dramatically in recent years .”
While the military has no plans to fully do away with fossil fuels , support for renewable energy has risen in all branches of the US Armed Forces .
The Pentagon relies on renewables both for military installations at home and in combat zones . In compliance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 , military installations and facilities in the US are required to be energy efficient and produce or buy 25 % of their total
10 September 2017