Military Leads the Way in Renewable Energy

The lead story in The New York Times this morning, “Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels,” provides a fascinating look at the role the Marines, Navy and Air Force are playing in the adoption of clean energy, primarily for utilitarian, as opposed to altruistic, reasons.

It appears that the fuel convoys of oil transported to Afghanistan over the Khyber Pass from Pakistan are “sitting ducks” for enemy attack, and that oil, while costing a little over a dollar a gallon to buy, can cost up to $400 per gallon to transport to forward operating bases.

The technology for Aghanistan includes solar panels, energy-conserving lights, tent shields and solar chargers. The Navy has introduced a hybrid assault ship running on electricity at speeds under 10 knots, and the Air Force’s entire fleet will be capable of running on biofuels by 2011.

One remembers the role of the military and DARPA in the invention of the Internet, and the article also notes how the military provided the initial push for transformation to coal, oil and nuclear technology. The military’s need for renewable energy, and the tactical advantage it supplies on the battle field, needs no Congressional approval and can simply be requested by commanders of the various units. This demand, in turn, helps to create markets for these products, driving down costs without any legislative incentive.

It’s not often that the lead story in The Times provides a sense of hope, and I’m not by nature a hawk. But credit goes where credit is due.