THE United States military is one of the world’s largest oil guzzlers.
Planes, ships, vehicles, helicopters, and even shore-based operations must have electricity to keep the military operational. Many presidents have realized that our military is “addicted” to foreign oil. Within the past 10 years or so, the military has set goals of reducing its fossil fuel dependency and its “boot-print” on Earth. Going green is not new to the military, but with the lofty goal set by former President George W. Bush that 25 percent of the military’s energy must come from renewable resources by 2025, the U.S. military is now becoming one of the largest investors in green energy.
There are many reasons the military is going greener. There is a direct relationship between energy consumption and the military – the more energy consumed the more vulnerable it becomes to the enemy. Our military deploy to all corners of the world, to areas with many different climates. Most areas that they deploy to require fuel to be flown, shipped, or driven to make shift bases; this is a weakness as the supplies can be ambushed causing the loss of life of those that protect it. It is also pricey to have fuel delivered in this manner – it can cost as much as $400 per gallon to be delivered to a remote forward operating base.
According to an article I found on greentechmedia.com, “Seventy-five percent of the renewable energy procured or produced in FY 2012 actually came from the department’s 679 renewable energy products (15 percent was purchased and 10 percent came from renewable energy credits).” The same article broke down the types of renewable energy produced by the Department of Defense: over half comes from geothermal sources, municipal solid waste accounts for 16 percent; 9 percent comes from ground-source heat pumps; 8 percent from biomass and biogas; and another 8 percent from solar photovoltaic systems.
Each DOD branch is doing its part to reach the lofty goals set before them. Their dependency on petroleum degrades the strategic position of the country and its tactical forces. The global supply of oil is finite and is becoming harder to find and retrieve which is causing the cost of fuel to continue soaring. Here are a few goals each branch has set:
There are many reasons the military is going greener. There is a direct relationship between energy consumption and the military – the more energy consumed the more vulnerable it becomes to the enemy. Our military deploy to all corners of the world, to areas with many different climates. Most areas that they deploy to require fuel to be flown, shipped, or driven to make shift bases; this is a weakness as the supplies can be ambushed causing the loss of life of those that protect it. It is also pricey to have fuel delivered in this manner – it can cost as much as $400 per gallon to be delivered to a remote forward operating base.
According to an article I found on greentechmedia.com, “Seventy-five percent of the renewable energy procured or produced in FY 2012 actually came from the department’s 679 renewable energy products (15 percent was purchased and 10 percent came from renewable energy credits).” The same article broke down the types of renewable energy produced by the Department of Defense: over half comes from geothermal sources, municipal solid waste accounts for 16 percent; 9 percent comes from ground-source heat pumps; 8 percent from biomass and biogas; and another 8 percent from solar photovoltaic systems.
Each DOD branch is doing its part to reach the lofty goals set before them. Their dependency on petroleum degrades the strategic position of the country and its tactical forces. The global supply of oil is finite and is becoming harder to find and retrieve which is causing the cost of fuel to continue soaring. Here are a few goals each branch has set:
Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.
For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/.