Rooftop Solar Seen Protecting U.S. Power Grid From Attack
Bloomberg— April 25th, 2013
National Security
Clean, renewable energy contributes directly to our national security. Uniformed and civilian military leaders agree that biofuels, solar, wind, electric vehicles, and other clean technologies have a clear strategic role to play in reducing threats to our men and women in uniform, lowering costs to the Department of Defense and freeing America from reliance on foreign fuels.
Key Stats
- 10 KW: Amount of electricity the military’s largest solar installation in New Mexico will produce each year (Source: Yahoo News, http://yhoo.it/Wqrmgu)
- 100%: Even if the U.S. could produce all its oil, Americans would be vulnerable to global price fluctuations based on supply disruptions in unstable regions. (Source: American Security Project, http://bit.ly/XEYR01)
- 2016: The year the Air Forces wants use alternative fuels for 50% of domestic aviation needs (Source: American Security Project, http://bit.ly/YtvFG4)
- 381%: Increase in the Department of Defense’s fuel costs between 2005 and 2011. (Source: Congressional Research Service, http://bit.ly/LsFuks)
- Supersonic: The speed an Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet flew on a 50-50 blend of traditional fuel and biofuel made from camelina, a dedicated energy crop grown in the United States. (Source: U.S. Air Force, http://bit.ly/dZ3JRq)
- 1 out of 8: Number of U.S. Army casualties in Iraq resulting from protecting fuel convoys. (Source: CNN, http://cnnmon.ie/n0ajz1)
- $17 billion: Amount Department of Defense – the largest single consumer of liquid fuels in the world – spent on fuel for military operations in FY2011. (Source: Congressional Research Service, http://bit.ly/14UyPZ2)
- 50%: Percentage of algae-based biofuels in fuel used to power the U.S. Navy Frigate USS Ford in March 2012. (Source: Honeywell, http://bit.ly/Lor1UM) See More »
Latest News
Breaking the Oil Monopoly With Renewable Fuel
AOL Energy— January 16th, 2013
Renewable Portfolio Standards Key To US Clean Energy Growth
Sustainable Business— January 8th, 2013
Five Years On, Advanced Biofuels Industry Marks Its Progress
Aol Energy— December 21st, 2012
Don’t turn back on solar
The Las Vegas Sun — August 3rd, 2012
Resources
Renewable Energy for Military Applications
— Pike Research, September 2012, http://bit.ly/iPyWvy
Department of Defense Energy Initiatives: Background and Issues for Congress
— Congressional Research Service, June 2012, http://bit.ly/LsFuks
Fuel Costs Squeeze Defense Budget
— Third Way, May 2012, http://bit.ly/KigcUI
DoD Energy Initiatives for Military Operations: Myths and Facts
— Pew Charitable Trusts, May 2012, http://bit.ly/LQG8os
Biofuels and National Security
— American Security Project, March 2012, http://bit.ly/yjmEWd
Quotes
“We have to be able to have the potential to transform the nation’s approach to the challenges we are facing in the environment and energy security.”
— Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, http://1.usa.gov/IDQY2J
“Solar panels save lives on the front lines by minimizing the need for fuel convoys that are big, slow and highly vulnerable to attack.”
“Our military leaders understand the critical danger we face. They are acting to meet that danger, in the only way that makes sense: by developing alternatives to oil.”
— Michael Breen, former U.S. Army captain and Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran, http://bit.ly/KCJTBH
“Seeking out some viable energy options isn’t a fad…We’re doing it because we have to be a more effective fighting force. The reasons are strategic, the reasons are tactical and the reasons are essential to our national security.”
— Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, http://1.usa.gov/Lbkgcy
