Pentagon Spends Economic Stimulus to Develop Alternative Fuels and Save Energy
The US Department of Defense is the largest consumer of energy in the United States spending $18 billion a year. Fueling jet engines and running generators at operating bases use up much of the Pentagon’s fuel.
Coupled with economics, dwindling natural resources, and the dangers of transporting fuel in war zones (half of all US casualties in Iraq are from attacks on fuel carrying convoys), the military plans to spend economic stimulus money on alternative fuels and energy conservation.
Traditionally, the Department of Defense has cared little about saving money. The recent shift towards alternative fuels as a military priority is an effort to reduce casualties rather than save natural resources or funds. “The honest-to-God truth, the most compelling reason to do it is it saves lives,” said Brigadier General Steven Anderson, director of operations and logistics for the Army. Saving money, preserving dwindling natural resources and lessening U.S. dependence on foreign sources are lesser priorities of the alternative fuels and energy conservation initiatives.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have set the record for the most fuel consumption of any war in US history. Since the War on Terror began in 2001, the amount of oil consumption has increased from 50 million gallons to 500 million gallons a year at bases. Using Economic Stimulus Package money, the Pentagon has several alternative fuels and energy saving projects planned.
- Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery: Deployed in the summer of 2008, the Army tried mobile unit prototypes that converted field waste (paper, plastic, cardboard and food slop) into biofuel using an anaerobic microbial process. The garbage-based biofuel was used to power a 60-kilowatt generator. Unfortunately, the prototypes broke down and couldn’t handle the ton of trash a day a base creates. $7.5 million of the stimulus money will be used to create a more rugged model.
- Lightweight, Flexible Photovoltaic Mats: $15 million of the stimulus money will be used by the military to develop solar mats that can be rolled up and transported easily to forward bases. “We think $15 million will let us build, develop and test one of these roll-out mats,” said Alan R. Shaffer, director of defense research and engineering at the Pentagon.
- Algae into Jet Propulsion Fuel 8: $6 million will go towards the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for converting algae into jet fuel for the Navy and Air Force.
- Hybrid Tactical Vehicles: $27 million will fund the development of a hybrid engine the Army can use in tactical vehicles.
- Highly Efficient Portable Fuel Cells: In order to reduce the battery load infantry soldiers must carry, $2 million will be dedicated for the development of fuel cell technology.
- Spray-Foam Tents: The $29 million expansion of this energy conservation program will insulate tents reducing the amount of fuel needed for heating and cooling. The current program saves the Army $2 million per day.
I’m all for the Pentagon using stimulus money for alternative fuels and energy saving initiatives, and I hope the projects result in information that will be shared with the private sector and not classified. However, no matter how much money the military spends to be green, the greatest good they can do for the environment and human rights is to end the conflict in the Middle East.
Image: PlanetSave
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About the Author
Jennifer Lance Jennifer lives on 160 acres off-the-grid in a home built with her own two hands (and several more skilled pairs of hands) from forest fire salvaged timber. Her home is powered by a micro-hydro turbine, and she has been a vegetarian for 21 years. Jennifer graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in art education and has been teaching art to children for over 16 years. She also spent five years teaching in a one-room schoolhouse before becoming the mother of two beautiful children. Jennifer has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently teaching preschool, as well as k-8 art. She enjoys writing, gardening, hiking, practicing yoga, and raising four akitas. Jennifer is the founder and editor of Eco Child's Play (http://ecochildsplay.com) "I’ve always been concerned about the earth and our impact upon it. Now that I have children, I feel compelled to raise them with green values. From organic gardening to alternative energy, my family tries to leave a small carbon footprint." Please visit my other blog: http://reallynatural.com
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