The Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest consumer of energy in the world, using about one-fifth of the total. In fact, DOD consumes more oil than any other single entity on Earth.
To meet this demand, DOD relies on oil-rich regions that are often unstable or hostile to U.S. interests—including the Middle East and Africa. This dependence makes our military vulnerable to supply disruptions and political instability, which could threaten our national security interests as well as endanger American troops abroad.
An alternative energy source would offer a safer alternative for both civilians and military personnel alike by reducing our dependence on foreign imports from unstable regions like these—which also have an environmental impact on our country’s air quality. Solar power offers this solution because it can be deployed on a larger scale than wind turbines but still has enough flexibility to be used at smaller scales—like bases overseas where there may be less space available for installing large wind farms.
The U.S. military has been an early adopter of renewable energy technologies.
In addition to the military’s commitment to renewable energy, it has also been an early adopter of these technologies. For example, in 2009 the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) launched a $2 billion project called “Energizing Battlefields,” which aims to develop and deploy sustainable power solutions for military bases around the world by 2025. This effort includes installing solar panels on some bases and using hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) within those installations that can be recharged using renewable energy sources such as wind turbines or photovoltaics (PV).
Solar and wind power can contribute to our national security interests by reducing our dependence on oil imports from unstable regions.
Oil dependence is a national security issue because oil is finite and sourced from unstable regions. Additionally, it’s often transported through unstable regions–a process that can be dangerous for American troops and allies. Oil prices are also volatile and can lead to economic instability around the world.
Oil dependence means that we must import more than half of our petroleum needs (including gasoline) from foreign sources; this puts us at risk of supply disruptions that could harm our economy or military operations abroad. For example, during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91, Iraqi forces attacked Kuwaiti oil fields during their invasion of Kuwait.
Solar power is also more scalable, allowing it to be used on a smaller level.
This means that solar energy can be used in places where there is no access to the grid or other forms of traditional power. In these areas, solar panels are able to provide electricity for homes and businesses as well as mobile devices like cell phones and laptops.
Solar power offers a way for both civilians and the military to reduce their oil dependence and contribute to national security
Solar power is a renewable energy source that can provide electricity to homes, cars and military bases. It’s also one of the most reliable ways to reduce our dependence on oil imports from unstable regions. The Department of Defense (DOD) has been working toward this goal for years by installing solar panels at its facilities around the world. So far it has installed over 7 megawatts worth of photovoltaic (PV) panels on its bases in California alone!
To help meet its goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% between 2005 and 2020, DOD plans to install an additional 2 gigawatts worth of PV panels nationwide by 2025–the equivalent amount required to power 500,000 homes each year!
Conclusion
In conclusion, solar power offers a way for both civilians and the military to reduce their oil dependence and contribute to national security. There are many potential benefits of this technology, including cost savings and increased energy independence. However, there are also some challenges that must be overcome before widespread adoption is possible.