Reuters’ Deborah Zabarenko reports that the U.S. Army has started a new initiative to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2015. In addition to the environmental benefits, the Army is motivated by the belief that less fuel equals less risk to American troops. “If we can reduce consumption on our forward operating bases by using renewable energy, let’s say wind or solar instead of a diesel generator outside the tent, then we can reduce the number of these supply convoys that need to come forward that are getting hit by these IEDs,” said Tad Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for environment, safety and occupational health.
Here at TR, this connection between the security of American forces and their dependence on fossil fuels isn’t a new concern. Last year Lt. Gen. Larry Farrell (Ret.) contributed a guest post discussing the relationship between force security and the military’s energy requirements, and how climate change exacerbates the challenge.
Though I can’t fully appreciate the risks our troops are facing on the frontlines in their courageous fight in the war against terrorism, you and I can fully understand the risks of being dependent on foreign oil. I’m reminded of it every time I read the latest lousy lines from bad actors in the Middle East, and every time I pay at the pump.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 10:47 am and is filed under Contributors, Eco-Business Strategies, National Security, Oil and Gas, Politics/Government, Terra Rossa . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Thought you might like this site. This site is releasing CO2 into the air saying CO2 is not a pollutant.
http://carbonreset.com