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The Department of Defense Wants to Double Down on Renewables
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603778/the-department-of-defense-wants-to-double-down-on-renewables/[font face=Serif][font size=5]The Department of Defense Wants to Double Down on Renewables[/font]
[font size=4]As clean energy and environmental protection look set to suffer under Trump’s budget cuts, at least the military will do its bit to reduce emissions.[/font]
by Jamie Condliffe | March 2, 2017
[font size=3]When you think of cutting-edge military technology, you probably picture vehicles, weapons, communications—perhaps even killer robots. But the Department of Defense would like renewable energy to be part of that list.
The military is no stranger to innovation, recently even taking a page out of Silicon Valley’s book. And over the past 10 years it’s been gradually increasing its adoption of renewable power, after it vowed to produce or procure 25 percent of all of its energy from clean sources.
Now Reuters reports that senior military officials intend to “forge ahead under the new administration with a decade-long effort to convert its fuel-hungry operations to renewable power.” That might be easier than ever, given President Trump’s recent promise to commit an extra $54 billion to defense spending.
…
But military officials argue to Reuters that this shift to renewables isn’t really motivated by a desire to save the planet, but to make systems more efficient, safe, and robust. For instance, an Army facility running on renewables would be immune to grid attacks; a hybrid tank doesn’t need to stop to refuel as often; and in war zones a solar panel can’t explode like a tank of gas.
…[/font][/font]
[font size=4]As clean energy and environmental protection look set to suffer under Trump’s budget cuts, at least the military will do its bit to reduce emissions.[/font]
by Jamie Condliffe | March 2, 2017
[font size=3]When you think of cutting-edge military technology, you probably picture vehicles, weapons, communications—perhaps even killer robots. But the Department of Defense would like renewable energy to be part of that list.
The military is no stranger to innovation, recently even taking a page out of Silicon Valley’s book. And over the past 10 years it’s been gradually increasing its adoption of renewable power, after it vowed to produce or procure 25 percent of all of its energy from clean sources.
Now Reuters reports that senior military officials intend to “forge ahead under the new administration with a decade-long effort to convert its fuel-hungry operations to renewable power.” That might be easier than ever, given President Trump’s recent promise to commit an extra $54 billion to defense spending.
…
But military officials argue to Reuters that this shift to renewables isn’t really motivated by a desire to save the planet, but to make systems more efficient, safe, and robust. For instance, an Army facility running on renewables would be immune to grid attacks; a hybrid tank doesn’t need to stop to refuel as often; and in war zones a solar panel can’t explode like a tank of gas.
…[/font][/font]
