Department of Defenses Energy Challenge

"Operational Energy Strategy": Turning the U.S. Military into the most Energy-Efficient Fighting Forces in the World

Prepared by:

Cesar Marolla
cmarolla@fas.harvard.edu
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for: ENVR-E 102 Environmental Management II

HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Environmental Management Professors: Ramon Sanchez ScD, Assistant Director of the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program, Harvard University Extension School Petros Koutrakis PhD, Professor of Environmental Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health Zachary D. Zevitas BS, Environment Editor, Science Network 05/04/2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Abstract.3 1.1 Background....3 1.2 Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels..5 2.0 Renewable Energy Projects: Private Investment is Key..6 2.1 The Financial Aspect of Renewable Investments..7 2.2 The United States Codes Section 2911 of Title 10: Energy performance goals and master plan for the Department of Defense.....8 3.0 Testing Energy Efficient Technologies.11 3.1 More Capability, Less Cost: Build Energy Security into the Future Force.....13 3.2 The Air Force's Use of Renewable Energy..14 3.4 Solar Powered Devil Dogs: Leading the Way in California15 4.0 Challenges to Meet the Renewable Energy Goals...16 5.0 Leadership in Action: .......18 5.1 Dan Nolan, CEO Sabot 6, Inc..18 5.2 Robert Wood, Chief of Environmental Management, Edwards Air Force, Mojave, CA.....18 5.3 Chris Tindal, Director for Operational Energy -The U.S. Navy..19 6.0 Navy to Demonstrate Biofuel Use During Exercise....20 6.1 Smart Micro-Grid at DoD Installations...22 6.2 Solar Energy Development in Southern California and Nevada: Thinking and Acting About the Future Today..23 7.0 Conclusion: DoDs Future Plans and Recommendations..24 Photos Convoy of fuel and other supplies in Afghanistan.....6 USS Makin Island (LHD 8) under construction in Pascagoula, Miss...14 Solar array at Buckley AFB, Colo.15 Wind turbines and Solar Hybrid PV..16 Charts and Figures Microturbine works....12 Microturbine Overview..12 Energy consumption by energy type and source...15

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1.0 Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify, develop, improve, and implement a series of options in operational energy strategy for the Department of Defense utilizing renewable energy sources and turning the U.S. Military into the most Energy-Efficient Fighting Forces in the World (Coren). Energy is an important source of Americas progress, prosperity and development but also it is the basis of instability, crisis, inequality and prominently, environmental deterioration and risk. All those factors are highly accentuated in our military operations where every combatant command has a significant energy related mission. Today war fighting is about 16 times more energy-intensive then the Vietnam War era. Furthermore, oil intensity per war fighter rose 2.6 percent annually for the past 40 years and is anticipated to increase another 1.5 percent annually through 2017 due to greater mechanization, remote expeditionary conflict, rugged terrain, and irregular operations (Lovins). Energy became a vital fighting source that it is closely related to the troops survival and success in the battlefield. The paper concludes by arguing that it is fundamental to emphasis the issues presented and because of the energy crisis we are experiencing today there has never been a better time to pursue and consequently execute a concrete energy course of action applied to our military forces that can minimize our troops risks and strengthen our national security and global interests.

1.1 Background
Since the World War Two, the harmful impact of conflict and its consequences has resulted in toxics in land fields, sites, water supply, rivers and oceans deteriorating the air, affecting animal life and populations health. The impacts are not only environmental but also financial and

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closely related to energy sources and consumption. The cost to clean up DoDs environmental deterioration and the use of non-renewable energy resources is tens of billions of dollars and this figure keeps rising in a global context. Unfortunately, Congress decided the training and engaging of our military forces in war using the standard operations and current energy strategy overshadow any environmental degradation caused by the armed forces in the name of national security and international conflict relations. Subsequently, there is a sense of justification to use fossil fuels. Furthermore, the depletion of non-renewable energy sources creates a high risk that jeopardizes all the interests the U.S Government is presently committed worldwide (Horton 3-5).

The price tag of the US military energy usage is approximately $15 billion dollars per year that includes operations worldwide. The majority of the budget for this spending goes to fuel costs. There is another high price we pay for this dependency on fossil fuels; since the Iraq and Afghanistan war begins more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers and contractors had died or wounded in fuel convoys to supply this essential energy source for warfare. Those figures account for more than 60% of all fighting deaths in these wars (Energy Collective). After the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, followed by the end of the Cold War until the first years of the 21st century highlighted the drop in energy consumption by the Department of Defense (around 40%) but the war on terrorism and national security concerns put the price label to new highs on the spending budget. The DOD became the largest consumer of energy in the United States, surpassing countries with a population over 140 million like Nigeria. For example, in 2009 the consumption of energy reached an astonishing 932 British thermal unit of site distributed energy with an approximate cost of 13.3 billion dollars. This high energy consumption emits 73 million metrics tons of CO2 which equals to approximately 4% of the

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countrys total emissions. Most consumption is concentrated on oil with 360,000 barrels per day which counts for 80% and then electricity with 11% of utilization respectively; the rest is spread out among natural gas and coal (Daily Energy Report). The seriousness of this statistics and the need of becoming a world leader in an efficient renewable energy organization reflect an imperative course of action that our military force is beginning to act upon.

1.2 Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels

American fuel supply convoys in Afghanistan are exposed to deadly attacks by the insurgents. This tactic aims to deter the energy supplied to the American military bases and its equipment, consequently leaving our troops defenseless with no supplied energy source to engage in combat. The main concern for the Pentagon is to decrease that dependency on fossil fuels and build up and deploy renewable energy to implement accordingly to the dangerous tasks our troops engage on the battle field (Rosenthal). As the Navy Secretary and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Ray Mabus stated: There are a lot of profound reasons for doing this, but for us at the core its practical, (Rosenthal). The Navy Secretary emphasized the need of deterring our dependency on fossil fuels and how crucial it is for our national security and efficacy to engage in international conflicts. His goal is to have 50% of renewable energy sources to be allocated for the Navy and Marines by the year 2020 (Rosenthal) and the current Administration is backing up this plan to alleviate our arm forces from energy dependency and the dangers it brings to our troops with a full energy plan focused on DoDs visionary goal of fossil fuel independence.

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Photo: Convoy of fuel and other supplies in Afghanistan exposing the dangers of the terrain ("DoD Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, FY 2011" 6).

2.0 Renewable Energy Projects: Private Investment is Key

Private investments are essential to the development of any projects in the civil market and now the military is seeking investors to develop large-scale renewable projects. The U.S. Army has been actively pursuing investors to reduce electricity consumptions from fossil fuels energy sources to meet an ambitious goal of generating 25% of electricity from clean energy resources by the year 2025 (Crowe). The Army has been accelerating those renewable energy projects in 2011 and presently they have completed 126 renewable projects and 20 more are in the works. The prospects for these installations are brighter than ever before as the U.S. Department of Defense recently granted the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment authority to go ahead and approve long-term contracts for power purchase agreements (PPAs) with a commitment of up to 30 years. The contracts have certain limitations as they can only be implemented for geothermal energy but they highlight the Army personnel

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will provide assistance to investors in regards of legal issues, policies, and technical assistance (Crowe).

2.1 The Financial Aspect of Renewable Investments

We are presently living in a society where supply and demand sets the price of goods in the global marketplace. Therefore, demand plays a big factor in determining how efficient the production (volume) of the product would be parallel to the affordability and return on the investment factor. Renewable energy products can highly benefit from the economy of scale, drastically reducing the price of alternative energy (this is already being experienced in some markets around the world).

The Department of Defense approach toward renewable energy is leading many private and public sectors of our society as the U.S. military understands the number of factors that raises the price of oil, coal, and natural gas affecting the supply of energy to the department needs and its close relation to our national security. President Obama, on his speech at the State of the Union Address, mentioned the Department of Defense commitment to renewable energy technologies which it is currently the biggest investment in history (Marcial). The year budget on energy is presently $20 billion. That comprises 300,000 barrels of oil a day plus other fossil fuel sources and the military spending in renewable energy rose 300% between 2006 and 2009 to 1.2 billion and keeps increasing year after year with projections of $ 10 billion a year in the next 20 years (Marcial).

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2.3 The United States Codes Section 2911 of Title 10: Energy performance goals and master plan for the Department of Defense The United States Codes Section 2911 of Title 10 stipulates the use of renewable energy as a primary goal of the Department of Defense to focus in the production of no less than 25% of total quantity of facility energy DOD consumes by the fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year after coming from renewable energy sources (Marcial). The following stipulations are amalgamated and summarized by the Cornell University Law School into important sections to deliver a tangible energy plan that meets the current and future needs of the department:

Energy Performance Goals. Secretary of Defense submission of an energy performance goal for the DOD involving transportation, utilities, facilities, infrastructure and support systems. These goals are submitted yearly to be reviewed by the President and then submitted to Congress with a budget for the next fiscal year and the next five, ten, and twenty years.

Energy Performance Master Plan. Secretary of Defense develop a plan to reach the energy performance plan targets desired by the DOD accordingly to policies, laws and executive orders that can influence and/or change the current goals. Each military agency will develop a comprehensive plan to achieve the desired goals; the use of baseline standards should be emphasized and the different departments will highlight the development of a measurement method to minimize and conserve energy.

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 Presenting the description of specific requirements on the proposed investments (reflected in the budget of the President for each fiscal year) is essential and related to how the goals will be achieved. That will ensure transparency and efficiency to the process.

There is a time frame of 30 days where the budget of the President is submitted to Congress (for a fiscal year).

Special Considerations. The following consideration will serve as an enhance recommendation to the successful implementation of the energy goals and consequently the energy performance master plan:

Opportunities to reduce consumption; reduce demand and requirements for the use of energy; implementing conservation measures; pursuing alternative energy initiatives; cost savings initiatives; the value of economies-of-scale associated with fewer energy types used; seeking ways to use electric, hybrid-electric, and high efficiency vehicles into vehicle fleets; create incentives for members of the armed forces and civilian personnel to reduce energy consumption.

Goal Regarding Use of Renewable Energy To Meet Facility Energy Needs. This is the primary goal of the Department of Defense. Acquiring no less than 25% of energy consumption from renewable energy sources by the year 2025; consistency on the production of renewable energy sources equivalent with the performance goals and energy performance master plan.

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 Renewable energy sources generated from renewable sources, including the following: Solar. Wind. Biomass. Landfill gas. Ocean, including tidal, wave, current, and thermal. Geothermal, including electricity and heat pumps. Municipal solid waste. Increasing efficiency on new hydroelectric generation capacity Thermal energy generated by any of the foregoing sources. (Cornell University Law School).

The Department of Defense in order of reaching those goals has invited a number of privet sector companies for a demonstration of renewable energy technologies that can be maximize by our military. These companies presented a series of products that can be utilize for military purposes and selected for future testing and development. Some of the most important companies selected are:

Lockheed Martin (LMT) is developing an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion technology. This technology creates energy from warm surface waters and deep cold water, generation an endless source of power (Lockheed Martin).

Boeing (BA) is developing a prototype of a solar-electric drone that can stay aloft for several months primarily use for scientific experiments, remote sensing, etc. Furthermore, the revolutionary aircraft Solar Eagle, powered by multiple electrical motors run on electrical energy generated by fuel cells and solar arrays and the Vulture air vehicle that is on the works;

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designed for operation at very high-altitude of 90,000 60,000 ft, and operates constantly, unrefilled, for a period of five years (Defense Update).

Johnson Controls (JCI) acquired a $34 million contract by the U.S. Army to develop solar, wind, and energy management control systems to develop energy efficient technologies (Renewable Energy Magazine).

3.0 Testing Energy Efficient Technologies

The commercialization of renewable technologies and more efficient-already existingtechnologies start to develop within the U.S. Military. The test bed for innovation lays in the Department of Defense initiatives and that can trigger the marketability of those technologies to the consumers. Currently, the DoD (Department of Defense) administers over 300,000 buildings and the new buildings are constructed with energy efficient technologies that will potentially serve as a model for the civilian community. The older buildings are being renovated and these market tests for energy efficiency can lead to new innovative ideas that are tangible and can be commercially viable in the near future (Ryan ). Dorothy Robyn, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment, in a speech at the Edison Foundation in Washington D.C. on March 22, 2012, mention two specific innovations that are tested and are parallel to the DOD vision for an efficient energy program: Microturbines and Electrochromic Windows (Ryan).

The landfill at Ft. Benning, GA is presently being used to test the Microturbines. These are a combustion turbine that generates heat and electricity on a small scale and it has many advantages as its compact size for mobility, the opportunity to use waste fuels, the light weight

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and greater efficiency, fewer moving parts than a conventional small-scale power generation, and an 80% efficiency when recovering waste heat (Capehart).

How a microturbine works : ("National Institute of Building Sciences" )

Microturbine Overview Commercially Available Yes (Limited) Size Range Fuel Efficiency Environmental Other Features Commercial Status 25-500 kW Natural gas, hydrogen, propane, diesel 20-30% (Recuperated) Low (<9-50 ppm) NOx Cogeneration (50-80C water) Small volume production, commercial prototypes now.

Microturbine Overview: ("National Institute of Building Sciences")

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The electrochromic windows are composed of a thin film blocking the heat from the sun. Therefore, the air conditioning usage is minimized and utilize smaller unites. Besides the DOD involvement on this technology, the Department of Energy is fully supporting its use and development. The negative factor is the cost in comparison with the standard ones but the DOD is presently using these windows and measuring the results. This initiative can potentially make them feasible to the commercial market (Ryan ).

3.1 More Capability, Less Cost: Build Energy Security into the Future Force: The benefits of renewable energy sources are highlighted by the DOD and its strategic energy plan for the present and long term future objectives. There are certain limitations in regards of what these benefits can achieve. The U.S. military depends on large volumes of energy, mainly oil, and because the military structure which encompass military platforms, ships, equipment, aircraft, etc, have long life cycles, the retrofits cannot fundamentally change the energy performance, although it can be improved (Energy for the Warfighter: Operational Energy Strategy). Despite the challenge DoD is facing up a remarkable progress toward renewable energy efficiency is shown in the case of the Navys first amphibious assault ship, the USS Makin Island (LHD 8), equipped with an all electric auxiliary system and a hybrid gas turbine - electric propulsion system. The savings on fuel are approximately one million gallons with a life cycle of $250 million dollars (Lynn 9).

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Photo by Mr. Steve Blount: USS Makin Island (LHD 8) under construction in Pascagoula, Miss. (Lynn 9).

3.2 The Air Force's Use of Renewable Energy Acquiring renewable energy sources is a main priority for the military and the Air Force is leading the way in investing in green power as the number one purchaser within the Department of Defense. The vision for this plan is called the Air Force Renewable Energy Game Plan. The goal is to work on 33 different new plans in renewable energy until 2017 and generate approximately 27% of the Air Force electric consumption with efficient energy sources. The Air Force is currently doubling the ventures the agency is engaged with 131 projects in 56 bases like solar photovoltaic and thermal, wind, landfill gas, etc. Furthermore, it is exploring the use of energy from waste in 20 bases and the Air Force is looking forward to expand these projects in the current year (Elmore).

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This new solar array at Buckley AFB, Colo., covers six acres and is capable of generating up to 1.2 MWs of electricity (Photo: Air Force Facility Energy Center Newsletter, 2012).

3.3 Solar Powered Devil Dogs: Leading the Way in California The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment located in the Marine Corps Base Camp in Pendleton, California was the first military unite to use renewable energy to power their systems in their combat exercises. They utilize a portable power system that consist on solar power panels along with rechargeable batteries that diminish the need of fuel resupply as well as exposing the troops to a dangerous environment. Another benefit is the easy mobilization of the troops without the need of waiting for the logistic convoy. The energy efficient lighting system play an important

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role and the marines used field shelters with installed solar panels, generating two kilowatts to power laptops, vents, radios and other vital instruments (U.S. Marine Corps).

The above pictures show the possibilities of renewable energy sources used by our military personnel. Wind turbines at Naval Auxiliary Air Station in San Clemente Island, California and a solar hybrid PV at African Lion Theater Security Exercise, Tan Tan, Morocco ("DoD Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, FY 2011" 37).

4.0 Challenges to Meet the Renewable Energy Goals

A cost-effective investment plan is in the eyes of DOD as budget restrictions have been implemented in every sector of our military future projects. The challenges DOD faces to efficiently implement and benefit from renewable energy are diverse and can be underlined as follow: Renewable energy is for the most part much more expensive to produce and purchase than conventional standard sources (although it can be challenged under current and future production demand). As it was mentioned earlier in the paper the balance between supply and demand plays a crucial role to diminish costs and implement a concrete energy strategy among our military

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operations worldwide. Consequently, the Department of Energy and the DOD can deter some of these initiatives because if the price of renewable investment is considerably high it goes against with DOE and DOD cost-effective guidance (U.S. Government Accountability Office).

Private investments are vital to the development of renewable projects as it can provide the ground to accurately test the projects and accelerate the speed of implementation. However, it can also hamper the initiatives as the production of energy from these projects may not count toward the established energy objectives of the department (U.S. Government Accountability Office). Furthermore, some of the aforementioned projects are unsuited with the needs of the installations to use land for their missions. Aircraft operations need to take action away from wind turbines as it creates a conflict in the operations activities and training. This is something important to consider while strategizing the energy implementation plan. Realizing those challenges to efficiently meet renewable energy targets will improve the chances to a successful execution and will establish a realistic performance measure for attaining the energy goals (U.S. Government Accountability Office).

Furthermore, some other challenges occur at the locations facility and create delays on installations and improvements of the energy programs that are important to the operations energy efficiency of the military bases. The Air Force Energy Reporting System (AFERS) is being used to record and statistically compare monthly utility consumption for the U.S. Air Force worldwide. Last year in Gunter Annex (near Maxwell AFB, Alabama) the system release was delayed because of a significant data input problem. During testing, the problem of the system was not present but while on the training sessions the personnel spotted the issue, which

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consisted in a glitch that postponed the operation (Air Force Facility Energy Center Newsletter, 5-6).

5.0 Leadership in Action

5.1 Dan Nolan, CEO Sabot 6, Inc The strategic importance of renewable energy applied to the Department of Defense operations worldwide have been highlighted by several leaders within DoD and Dan Nolan, who has a distinguished career of 26 years with the Army, retiring as Chief of the CINC's Action Group, Central Command, has been actively putting an effort to bond the strategic importance of energy independence to the tactical importance of minimizing the use and transportation of fossil fuels in order lower the risk the armed forces face in the battlefield (Sabot 6, Inc. ).

The 2012 International Biomass Conference & Expo held in Colorado was an opportunity for military leaders to expose their views and vision regarding energy independence and renewable energy plans for the near future. The 26-year U.S. Army Veteran Dan Nolan delivered a passionate and informative keynote speech on the important role energy will play in the future of the U.S. There are several threatening regions that jeopardize the stability and prosperity of the U.S. and consequently the world and they can be spotted at night with satellite images. He noted that those images show the safer regions were lit up at night but the dangerous areas/countries were dark and emphasized the high possibility of conflict being generated by those dark regions. Observing North Korea and Iran at night from satellite images can offer a good picture of the dangerous regions that are presenting a threat to our country without energy security, he announced (Biomass Magazine).

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5.2 Robert Wood, Chief of Environmental Management, Edwards Air Force, Mojave, CA. The Chief of Environmental Management at Edwards Air Force Base, located in Mojave, California, has been an important leader to the expansion and execution of renewable energy in military installation across the region. He stated that the DoD uses most of its fossil fuels in its ships, tanks, vehicles of all kinds and aircraft. It is quickly weaning itself off oil and gas to heat and cool its buildings, it is aggressively demolishing 20% of its square footage of old facilities, upgrading and replacing the remaining space needs with LEED Silver or better buildings that are many times more energy efficient than the old facilities. The ability to use synthetic fuels in aircraft and other vehicles that burn JP-8 continues, eventually every vehicle in the fleet can use a wide range of renewable fuels (Wood).

5.3 Chris Tindal, Director for Operational Energy -The U.S. Navy Chris Tindal joined Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) in Charleston, South Carolina in 1988 working in Facilities Management, Operations, and Energy Management. Among his great accomplishments throughout his career Mr. Tindal has developed and led a pioneer program that resulted in over $10 million in energy savings named Utilities and Energy Cost Saver Tiger Team. Currently, Mr. Tindal holds the position of Director for Operational Energy working for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy. He is in charge of settings energy policy and direction for the Department of Navy and consequently focusing on alternative energy resources, including renewable sources. Furthermore, Mr. Tindal is the main Department of Navy principal on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U.S. Department of Agriculture (Tindal). This memorandum has an important significance as it supports and promotes the development and implementation of biofuel energy sources and other

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renewable energy resources that can be utilized by the DoD. Moreover, increasing warfighting capabilities and creating a comprehensive energy strategy to secure the energy future are vital goals, and this agreement creates a vision of an unparallel effort to put together a tactical plan that is closely related to clean energy that creates jobs, and subsequently distance the U.S. from an increasing dependency on foreign oil as well as enhancing our national security.

6.0 Navy to Demonstrate Biofuel Use during Exercise

The DoDs leadership is thinking ahead and the Navy Secretary, Mr. Ray Mabus, has announced an ambitious contract that it is considered the largest purchase of biofuel in the history of the armed forces. The volume is around 450,000 gallons of biofuel that will contribute to provide energy to a Navy carrier group (Parrish). The advantage of this energy source is that it can efficiently work without engine modifications. Therefore, it can adapt and perform in the Navy ships and aircraft engines without modifications (Parrish).

The main goal for the Navy is having 50% of total energy consumption coming from renewable sources by the year 2020. The New Year budget (2012) accentuated alternative fuels as a priority and it can be summarized as follow: Research emphasized on alternative fuels that includes the testing and certification of those sources Biofuel research partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture sustaining the Department of the NavyDepartment of Agriculture Memorandum of Understanding Alternative energy joint venture with U.S. Department of Energy and other services through the U.S. Department of Defense/U.S. Department of Energy MOU $1 million dollars per year to research, develop, and utilize Microbial, Biomolecular, and Sediment Fuel Cells. Furthermore, $16 millions are going to be use for the Hybrid

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Electric Drive research, development, and fielding to advance the operating efficiency of the DDG 51 Class ships with a target of $88 millions future years defense program (FYDP). ("Department of Defense" 16).

6.1 Smart Micro-Grid at DoD Installations

Objective: Presently, the power grid on installations, military bases, etc is obsolete and it doesnt have renewable sources of energy production in its majority with the exemption of a few sites that are aggressively implementing a non-renewable energy strategy. The state of the art network has no intelligent distribution, an unstable load demand that can collapse any time, and energy distribution losses. Microgrids can be installed as local power networks using distributed energy sources (DER), directing and controlling the demand of energy and its supply capabilities. Furthermore, these microgrids will be able to disconnect from the grid and operate in island mode as necessary; therefore, improving efficiency and establishing a secure energy resource ("Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)").

Technology Description: The MCS (microgrid control system) serves as an energy management control solution intended to improve distributed energy resources and to supply load in a local power distribution system (General Electric Company). This system can efficiently improve energy security. Moreover, it can operates with renewable energy sources, anticipate values of load and fuel and electricity prices for better competence ("Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)").

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Benefits: The reduction of fossil fuels, carbon footprint, and CO2 emissions is emphasized as a highlighted benefit. Also, the reliability of the system is a plus to provide the military installations with a continuous operating network. This technology can be moved from one installation to another, providing mobility, with different types of renewable energy sources as well as being able to operate with small and large microgrids (scalable technology) ("Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)").

6.2 Solar Energy Development in Southern California and Nevada: Thinking and Acting About the Future Today
Key Findings: The Department of Defense has researched and created a plan to engage in solar energy developments in DoD installations in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts of California, concluding that it is a tangible and concrete project for the near future. The analysis concluded that over 7,000 megawatts (MWac) can be financially and technically viable with 25,000 acres ready to be developed plus 100,000 acres that are potentially appropriate for the project (Department of

Defense, 1-2).

Challenges: Peculiarly, the area where the project will be installed is not suitable for solar energy development because military activities as well as floods hazards, biological resources, and the geographic area can create a conflict that jeopardize the development. Approximately 96% of the area is affected by this issue. Moreover, financial allocation could become an issue with many DoD installations. Technical barriers can also deter solar development; the capacity of transmission and the management of withdrawn lands are obstacles that challenge the implementation (Department of

Defense, 1-2).

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Financial Aspect: There is no capital investment required for private developers. The potential for incoming revenue is around $100 million per year. Rental payments and cost-effective power are important factors that benefit the development of the project (Department of Defense, 1-2). Mission Compatibility: The areas where the solar power developments will be install are

essential for the training, testing, development, assessment and research of activities and military personnel. Widespread and unrestricted landholdings are important to the military, especially today as the operations have become more complex than the past century. Therefore, the installations in Southern California and Nevada present a perfect location for evaluation and implementation of the project aforementioned. In addition, these installations are far apart from populated areas to make certain any accidents or unforeseen incidents will not affect people in a large scale (Department of Defense, 1-2).

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The above charts demonstrate the energy consumption by energy type and source and highlight the need of the DoD to aggressively engage in renewable energy sources. Renewable energy purchases accounted for only 1% in FY 2010. Charts: ("DoD Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, FY 2011" 32).

7.0 Conclusion: DoDs Future Plans and Recommendations

The Fiscal year (FY) 2013 is bringing some challenges and opportunities that present the optimal environment to develop further a comprehensive energy plan that will amalgamate all the different departments under DoD to efficiently implement the desired goals. The discussions are already in place over the spending programs on energy military operations with an estimated budget of $16 billion and investing initiatives of $1.4 billion for energy security. These invests are aimed at reducing consumption and demand on DoDs operations (Burke 2-4).

The Obama Administration started the OEPP (Operational Energy Plans and Programs) two years ago to pledge on the commitment of the White House on energy and national security. Subsequently, the transformation of DoDs energy consumption and renewable energy

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developments is the core of the strategy that can be changed throughout policy, guidance, a coordinated vision, and a change of the military culture (Burke 2-4).

OEPPs goal is to effectively improve military energy operations and at the same time minimize the risks and costs associated with our troops deployment and war engagement. There are a series of highlighted points that shows different ways the DoD can progress toward energy efficiency:

Encourage and support institutional change within DoD. Prioritize energy innovations. Develop and implement operational energy considerations into the future force.

(Burke 2-4).

The aforementioned points will continue to be in place for the FY 2013 and those actions will provide the chance to alter the current status quo. Furthermore, OEPP can transform DoDs energy consumption from todays vulnerable stage to an organization that prevails in having a strategic competitive advantage. The emphasized applied on deterring fossil fuels consumption and focus in the development and implementation of renewable energy sources will create the proper environment for our armed forces to improve their competency. Consequently, the department strongly believes the cost will be lower for taxpayers as demand and supply will periodically increase (if we consider subsidizing). It will protect the environment through the actions taken and it highlights the contribution to a competent energy strategy. As mentioned previously, private ventures will play a crucial role to accelerate and create a general acceptance in our society that investment in renewable energy is the answer to a short and long term plan for our energy crisis (Burke 2-4).

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Access to reliable supply of energy translates into security and the progress toward implementation of renewable energy is already established. Energy efficiency for the DoD will enforce the armed forces range and survival in the battlefield and mainly it will reduce the troops sidetracking to carry and protect the fuel needed for combat (DoDs Quadrennial Defense Review, 2010).

As a recommendation, the creation of a special committee (military and civilian) working in conjunction with the DoD to reinforce the initiatives in energy efficiency can be highly beneficial to ensure transparency and effectiveness of implementation. The guidance for Federal Agencies on E.O. 13514 Section 12, Federal Fleet Management will also provide a way to maximize energy efficiency and inform the public of those actions to establish credibility. If the public is aware of the renewable energy initiatives led by the DoD, and made the energy strategy available through the internet and other media outlets, it will solidify the message and ensure its success. The demand by the civil sector of creating more incentives for energy programs is crucial to a successful implementation and generates a solid foundation upon which energy initiatives may possibly continue to develop (Horton 25). The Environmental Law Institute made a detail oriented report that shows subsidies for fossil fuels reached around $72 billion dollars from 2002 to 2008. In contrast, renewable energy subsidies accounted for only $29 billion for the same period, indicating a wide gap between which energy source has a priority for production and improvement (Energy and Capital). Focusing on supporting renewable energy with the right capital for development and implementation will create the proper atmosphere to a steady growth.

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The United States of America is the country that produced and developed usable electricity in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Then, computers conquered our world thanks to Americas entrepreneurship and innovation. Now, the new energy economy is calling the U.S. to lead the way again (Nolan). The current unstable atmosphere in our society, the sluggish global economic growth, the emphasis on national security, and the gradual scarcity of non-renewable energy resources are creating a great opportunity for the Department of Defense to integrate a concrete energy strategy that is crucial for the security of our future and consequently become the most efficient fighting forces in the world.

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