Exploding Fuel Tankers Driving U.S. Army to Solar Power

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-30/exploding-fuel-tankers-driving-u-s-army-to-solar-power.html

The U.S. Army is spending billions of dollars shifting toward solar energy, recycled water and better-insulated tents. The effort isn’t about saving the Earth.

Instead, commanders have found they can save lives through energy conservation. It’s especially true in Afghanistan, where protecting fuel convoys is one of the most dangerous jobs, with one casualty for every 24 missions in some years.

With renewable energy, “there is no supply chain vulnerability, there are no commodity costs and there’s a lower chance of disruption,” Richard Kidd, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army in charge of energy security, said in an interview. “A fuel tanker can be shot at and blown up. The sun’s rays will still be there.”

While President Barack Obama called on the U.S. government to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 28 percent by 2020, the Army is embracing renewables to make the business of war safer for soldiers. In May, it announced plans to spend $7 billion buying electricity generated by solar, wind, geothermal and biomass projects over the next three decades.

[JHB]

1. What!?! Reduce your logistics train! What kind of military sense does that make?!

For the love of God, man, think of the contractors!









in case it's needed:

[IdaBriggs]

2. Don't you love it when someone else notices the benefit of common sense? k&r nt

[4bucksagallon]

3. Good to hear we are only going to war with sunny countries now.

Vietnam was no picnic during the monsoon season.

[dembotoz]

4. think the army will still have some tank trucks around