New Study Confirms U.S. Military is Preparing for the End of Oil

June 15th, 2011 by Tina Casey

A new report from the clean tech research firm Pike Research confirms a trend that has been percolating along mainly under the radar: the U.S. Department of Defense is gung ho for clean energy. In an interesting twist, Pike states that “increased access to clean and reliable energy has become a leading priority for the U.S. Department of Defense.” By stressing the reliability of clean energy, rather than focusing on the renewable aspect, Pike effectively steamrolls over any further discussion of whether or not the U.S. should continue to promote oil drilling, at least not for national defense purposes.

The U.S. DoD and The End of Oil

Officials up and down the chain of command at DoD have been forthcoming about the need for the U.S. military to transition out of oil and into safer and more readily available forms of energy. They don’t mean just ditching foreign-sourced oil in favor of more domestic offshore drilling, tar sands extraction, or exploitation of oil fields in wilderness conservation areas. They mean oil, period.

Climate Change, Fossil Fuels and National Defense

DoD has recognized that climate change is real, and climate change is a national defense issue. In addition to affecting military operations, climate change can raise new humanitarian aid responsibilities for the military, and affect base operations especially in coastal areas. Even if you put climate change aside, the need to find a better way is imperative, according to military officials who have been attempting to educate legislators regarding the extraordinary expense and risk to troops involved in transporting fossil fuels.

A Clean Energy Future for Civilians, Too

Pike notes that “energy is the lifeblood of the U.S. military.” DoD is driving the market for clean energy, and the Obama Administration is pushing the civilian end with federal support for clean tech research, electric vehicles, wind power, and solar power. Linking the military and civilian world is a vast pool of U.S. soldiers and other military personnel, who are cycling in and out of their home communities with an increased exposure to and respect for the advantages of clean, renewable energy. The “drill baby, drill” crowd is going down hard, but it is inevitably going down.

Image: Solar installation at military base by Lance Cheung on flickr.com. This solar installation powers the runway lights at Ascension Island, which is 1,000 miles away from the nearest land.

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Tags: oil drilling, U.S. Department of Defense clean energy, U.S. military clean energy

About the Author

Tina Casey Tina Casey specializes in military and corporate sustainability, advanced technology, emerging materials, biofuels, and water and wastewater issues. Tina’s articles are reposted frequently on Reuters, Scientific American, and many other sites. Views expressed are her own. Follow her on Twitter @TinaMCasey and Google+.

Publicistas Marketeers

The “Go Green” movement has been on full effect these past few years, and it’s comforting to know that the U.S. military is on board with it as well. Being energy efficient is no longer a choice with the world’s temperature increasing at an alarming rate and having the government back up this claim is heartening. The government needs to continue to push citizens and companies to become sustainable and efficient. Fossil fuels will no longer cut it.
Palmbayfl

USing alternative distributed energy to power bases makes good strategic sense . There are many applications where solar , wind , cold fusion , noble gas engines can power equipment and vehicles in a safe reliable way to make us even more deadly to our enemies.
Duke

I read the article and specifically the idea that the DOD is driving any direction to Renewable Energy to end dependence on oil is mathematically preposterous in the next 60 years and maybe even longer. We have the largest system in the world, built on very very large mechanics, as well as massive smaller systems, both portable and static. The article, as written, is a clear misrepresentation of any level of reality. To use the word “preparing” does not make it any more credible. Sorry, but wrong is wrong!
- Daniel Tabor
  
  “Mathematically” preposterous? I don’t think that word means what you think it means. We have the largest WHAT system in the world? The largest military? And? That has what to do with being enslaved by fossil fuel barons? “Large mechanics”? Clear as mud. What are you even talking about? The Department of Defense may be large, but every single piece of the US Military is composed of parts and components, none of which cannot be replaced, and certainly none of which are planned or expected to last for the next 60 years.
  
  The M1 rifle replaced the 1903 Springfield .303 beginning in 1936, and in turn began being replaced by the M14 in 1957. Barely 20 years’ service for the most ubiquitous piece of military equipment there is, the field armament for the infantry. Millions of them were built. But when there was something better and a need, they were replaced.
  
  When anything actually becomes, as is claimed, “a leading priority for the U.S. Department of Defense,” you’d be amazed how quickly things can change. When the decision is made to abandon oil and fossil fuels by the military, the change will happen very rapidly. And there will be jobs building the new technology they will require.
  
  Better get on the boat before you drown, over there.
Duke

I too am “preparing” to shave tomorrow but I doubt this thought is any more news worthy than this article. I think most people by now truly miss valuable journalism and writing. We miss you Walter Cronkite, I have no idea what happened to our education system. Now we just entertain and provoke!
Duke

I too am “preparing” to shave tomorrow but I doubt this thought is any more news worthy than this article. I think most people by now truly miss valuable journalism and writing. We miss you Walter Cronkite, I have no idea what happened to our education system. Now we just entertain and provoke!
Duke

I too am “preparing” to shave tomorrow but I doubt this thought is any more news worthy than this article. I think most people by now truly miss valuable journalism and writing. We miss you Walter Cronkite, I have no idea what happened to our education system. Now we just entertain and provoke!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ralph-Perez/100000768523346 Ralph Perez

Using solar and other renewables has always been the best way to keep money out of the hands of mid-east oil funded terrorists. Filling our rooftops with solar will do more harm to them than any nuclear bomb could.
Using electric cars will also keep from filling their banks with our gold. These can be charged with solar too!
- Anonymous
  
  Excellent points, love this line: “Filling our rooftops with solar will do
  more harm to them than any nuclear bomb could.”
  - Guest
    
    Yes – except that very few states (HI being a notable exception) use oil to fuel homes…
    - Anonymous
      
      I guess an assumption that we will quickly switch over to EVs is inherent in
      that.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Cesar-M-Gonzalez/1104556209 Cesar M Gonzalez
  
  My exact sentiments Mr. Pérez……We are addicted to petroleum, and MUST kick the habit the sooner the better. If we wait too long then the energy headaches will be much worse