[CPEO-MEF] ENERGY: Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Energy Security is National Security
Announcing Udall-Giffords Bill to Reduce Military's Reliance on  
Fossil Fuel

Office of Senator Mark Udall
June 8, 2011

During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of service men and  
women have been injured and killed each year in attacks on fuel  
convoys. In addition, the military spends $20 billion a year on  
energy, consuming a staggering 135 million barrels of oil and 30  
million megawatt-hours of electricity. In the words of Chairman of  
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen: "Saving energy saves  
lives." The U.S. military pays a heavy price for its reliance on  
fossil fuel. Osama bin Laden reportedly called our fuel convoys our  
military's 'umbilical cord,' and we risk the lives of thousands of  
troops each year because of our dependence on fossil fuel in theater  
and at home. Decreasing dependency on foreign fossil fuel must be a  
military - and an American - priority.



Today I announced the Department of Defense Energy Security Act of  
2011, a bill developed in partnership with the office of  
Representative Gabrielle Giffords, which is aimed at helping the  
military reduce its reliance on fossil fuel. The bill builds on work  
that is already being done and helps the Pentagon expand existing  
renewable energy studies and pilot programs through a Joint  
Contingency Base Resource Security Project. This project would help  
the service branches to share lessons learned as they study the best  
ways to incorporate renewable energy sources and fuel reduction  
initiatives such as the Marine Corps outstanding Experimental Forward  
Operating Base and the Army's pilot Net Zero Installations program,  
which Fort Carson in Colorado Springs has been selected to join. Fort  
Carson will be a testing ground for ways Army bases can use as much  
water and energy as they produce and recycle waste to achieve "net  
zero" energy use. Fort Carson's results and ideas could ultimately  
benefit the entire defense communityâs efforts to save money, energy  
and American lives.



While there's no single solution, our bill would support and advance  
the work of the Defense Department to systemically address energy  
security. We owe it to our troops and the American people to find  
ways to use energy smarter and more efficiently, and I believe this  
bill is several important steps in the right direction.

Mark Udall

For the original statement, go to
http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=1107

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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