Environmental Law

Military Goes Green?

By Dennis Pfaff and Kevin Livingston, Editors

"Eco-friendly" might not be the first term that comes to mind when thinking of the United States military, which is, after all, an institution well-supplied with things that explode and are otherwise capable of creating an environmental mess.

However, a bill recently signed by President Bush has some provisions in it that could, in fact, produce a greener military establishment, including, apparently, creating the possibility one day of battlefield areas dotted with wind turbines and solar panels. The overall purpose of the bill was to authorize defense spending for 2009.

As described by EERE Network News, a publication of the U.S. Department of Energy, the legislation contains sections "that will create a more fuel-efficient military while encouraging the use of wind and solar energy." Among those provisions: a requirement that the U.S. Department of Defense include fuel efficiency as a 'key performance parameter" when modifying or developing new "fuel consuming systems." As translated by the energy department publication, that would apply to machinery including tanks and jets.

The measure also tells defense planners to look at the "life-cycle cost" for new military capabilities, including the "fully-burdened" expense for fuel. That would include not only the price of the fuel itself but the equipment and personnel required to move and guard the stuff.

Another section of the bill requires defense officials to look into using "solar and wind energy
to provide electricity for expeditionary forces." Right now, according to the energy department, electricity in the field is usually produced by engine-driven generators.

The legislation's wording suggests that the ecology isn't the only -- or perhaps, primary -- reason to study the issue. For instance, the section regarding wind and solar power orders the department to consider whether reducing the amount of fuel used to generate electricity would lower the risk of casualties by reducing the number of supply convoys required. Officials were also directed to examine the costs associated with using wind and solar generation.

Somewhat lower on the list of study areas: the "environmental benefits" of solar and wind energy as compared to current methods. 

Another section of the bill requires defense analysts to look at reducing the life-cycle emissions of alternative and synthetic fuels, including fuels produced from coal.

The energy publication cited its own previous report on the cost of fuel for military purposes, which cited studies showing that hundreds of dollars a gallon were spent on delivering fuel to soldiers in war zones. Energy needs were also found to hamper defense operations in several areas.

There's been a focus on energy efficiency related to uniformed or captive audiences lately. Just recently the energy department noted the military is expecting to save millions of dollars by installing energy efficient lighting in its housing units. At the same time, California recently unveiled a big program to increase the energy efficiency of its prisons, and to install renewable power systems at the institutions.

--Dennis Pfaff of Thelen LLP 

Photo: KC-135 tanker refuels B-2 bomber over the Philippine Sea, 2008; courtesy U.S. Air Force, Staff Sgt. Vanessa Valentine 

Full post as published by Climate Law Update on October 22, 2008 (boomark / email).