Renewable energy makes the United States stronger and more secure.
It can help wean us from our over-dependence on oil, strengthen our
economy, provide needed flexibility to our military, and improve our
overall national security.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 36 years, I joined CNA’s Military Advisory Board (CNA
MAB), a panel of some of the nation’s highest-ranking retired admirals
and generals who study pressing issues that affect national security.
Energy is one of those issues. The CNA MAB’s conclusion:
America’s over-reliance on oil is a national security threat -
economically, militarily and diplomatically.
Our over-dependence on oil limits our foreign
policy options. It ties us to regimes that aren’t always friendly to
American interests. America sends nearly one billion dollars per day
overseas to purchase foreign oil. It is undeniable that some of that
money ends up in the hands of groups that wish to do us harm. We cannot
afford to be in the position of funding both sides of the war against
terrorism, from either a security or an economic standpoint.
We cannot simply drill our way out of the oil problem.
We consume a quarter of the world’s oil production, but have a much
smaller percentage of known reserves. And since the world market
determines the price of fossil fuels, drilling here at home won’t free
us from the volatile price spikes that strain our economy and the
budgets of American families and businesses. The money we spend on oil -
regardless of whether it’s imported or extracted from our land or
off our shores — helps perpetuate a global energy trade that lines
the pockets of regimes that don’t always have our best interests in
mind.
In its latest report, the CNA MAB called for a 30 percent
reduction in overall American oil consumption. Not only would this help
our nation weather any serious interruption in worldwide oil flows, it
would also improve our overall economic and national security. And it is
doable. We can get there by using energy more efficiently, while
developing and deploying renewables and alternative fuels.
The Pentagon is already working on this issue,
because military leaders have seen first-hand that our over-dependence
on fossil fuels makes it more likely that our troops will be sent into
harm’s way, and puts our men and women in uniform at risk on the
battlefield. While commanding multinational troops in Iraq’s Anbar
Province during the “Anbar Awakening,” I saw how fuel convoys made
attractive targets for enemy forces. Protecting oil fields and
transporting fuel also diverted resources and manpower away from
the military mission. Oil was, and still is, our “Achilles’ heel” on
the battlefield. A Marine Corps evaluation found that fuel and water
convoys accounted for 10% of casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Oil also leaves our military vulnerable to volatile
price shocks. Every $10 increase in the price of a barrel of oil costs
the Pentagon approximately $1.3 billion dollars. This puts a tremendous
strain on our military budget, especially considering the amount of oil
the military consumes today. Today’s average soldier consumes 22
gallons of gas per day. And last year, the Pentagon spent over $17
billion on fuel.
With combat effectiveness and cost savings in mind, the
U.S. military is working to reduce the need for oil on the battlefield.
Renewable energy is replacing diesel-powered generators on forward
operating bases. The Navy is testing biofuels
for planes and ships. Marines are using lightweight solar panels to
power their operations. The benefits are clear: Renewable energy is
saving lives. It’s also cutting down on the need for energy sources that
are subject to dramatic swings in price that strain the military’s
budget.
A strong economy undergirds national security, and
countries that adopt forward-looking energy policies make their
economies more efficient and position businesses to earn profitable
pieces of the fast-growing clean energy sector.
The U.S. military has a history of sparking innovation
that ends up benefitting businesses and the U.S. economy. We’ve seen
this time and time again, from GPS to computers, and from the Internet
to the Boeing 747. And now the military is serving as a catalyst for
energy innovation. The benefits will flow not just to the military, but
also to America’s economy, and to our nation as a whole.
The renewable energy industry is creating jobs, growing
the economy and enhancing military operations. That’s one reason
high-ranking retired military leaders say prioritizing renewable energy
is a vital part of ensuring our nation’s security and prosperity.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/11/renewable-energy-vital-to-our-nations-security-economy
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