The U.S. military had been tinkering with renewable energy for some time. Now, seeing that one in 24 fuel convoys carried in Afghanistan gets at least a civilian and a soldier killed, the Pentagon set a firm standard for the army to use 50 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2020.
“We’re not going green just for green’s sake. Energy reform and the new energy future aren’t about politics or slogans,” said General Peter Chiarelli, at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where a “strategic imperative” for the US military to become more energy efficient has been discussed.
The participants emphasized that becoming energy-independent is linked to the national security and not only to keeping the green image. A 2001 Defense Science Board report said that a gallon of fuel transported to the war zone can even reach the stupendous amount of $400, and the Department of Defense is burning 300,000 barrels of oil per day.
“It’s about protecting the lives of our troops. It’s about making our military better and more capable fighters. It’s about making our country more secure and more independent. That’s why we are doing this, that’s why we have to change,” he also said.
It’s no wonder that people don’t generally take global warming or pollution seriously, because even the army doesn’t do that. It’s like we’re all dreaming of a better world, would like to stop polluting and prevent global death, but hey, that can wait. We have to fight for oil first, we have more serious issues to deal with… that’s the attitude the army has and shows it in public.
And it’s not a bad idea to reduce fossil fuel usage, but at least they could have said it more nicely. Personally, on the other hand, I appreciate their honesty and practicality. Yes, indeed, it’s a matter of national security. Maybe if the army needs it that bad, more money would be poured into green energy generation and everyone profited.
