Environmental Outlook: The Military and Alternative Energy
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-07-05/environmental-outlook-military-and-alternative-energy
In Helmand province, Afghanistan, marines use solar panels to cut down on fuel use in generators. The more gas the marines save, the less that has to be brought in on dangerous convoys. The military is turning to alternative energy to both improve security and cut costs. Many hope a customer of its size will provide a kick-start to a fledgling industry. But in an era of tightening budgets, investing in more expensive technologies could prove difficult. As part of our Environmental Outlook series we look at the emerging partnership between the military and the renewable energy industry.
Guests
Coral Davenport
energy and environment correspondent, National Journal.
Sharon Burke
assistant secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs
Secretary Ray Mabus
secretary of the U.S. Navy
Ret. Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn
president of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
Comments
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I thought global warming was a hoax? Why would the military act on something that half of our political class believes is a liberal plot to destroy capitalism?
I think the Military pushing for research into alternative energy is a good thing. Historically many of the consumer products we now can't live without are the products of military R&D (microwaves, cell phones, interstates, computers, etc).
Invasive plants (kudzu, tamarisk, phragmites etc) are such a huge environmental problem....what about using them for biofuels?
I just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
An incredible amount of resources/space is wasted in trucks convoying bottled drinking water when so many deep wells with high quality water have been drilled throughout Afghanistan at forward operating bases. I know first hand because I have personally tested these wells myself and sent samples in to certified laboratories.
Most of the well water is used for things other than drinking. Conversely, over 95% of the water consumed by the troops is from bottled water that is trucked in along dangerous convoy routes.
The troops need to start consuming the water from the wells and cease wasting precious space used by the tonnage of bottled water that is shipped in by convoy.
Based on various information sources, oil does appear to be a focal point of US military operations: a la Iraq, Afghanistan. For instance, why are we really there? Based on facts, we know that the war in Iraq was/is based on fabricated evidence, not to mention that the war in Afghanistan is based on circumstantial evidence that bin Laden had anything to do with 9/11. Since he is conveniently dead, we cannot now obtain information from him. And then there is the world of black ops and funding that comes from unknown sources. www.spiritualprogressives.org posts a budget accounting of Pentagon funding verses domestic funding. Guess who gets the lions share of tax dolalrs?
What a great show! I had no idea we were being so progressive. I'm working on offshore platforms for hydrogen production from sea water. To be more accurate I'm trying to abate hurricanes but the platforms to do this need to be productive in the energy venue or they will never be built.
It is so refreshing to hear this kind of policy discussion taking place in the military. Given the power and influence of the oil and petroleum lobby, I am surprised that it is taking place publicly and at the highest levels. Could it be that America is ready to turn the corner on energy policy and unlink ourselves from a source that is both destructive and diminishing?
One of the panelists made a very astute observation about the broader implications of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels from foreign sources. She pointed out that the less dependent we are on those sources the less time, money and American lives will need to be spent on defending them and ensuring their availability for us as a nation. The military has never been in a better position to help save lives through the peaceful application of its vast power.
The Need:
1. biodiesel recycled from used cooking oil
2. Support 50-state biodiesel cooperatives (clean energy muscle memory)
3. Drive production cost to as little as $14.00 per barrel = $0.26 per gallon
Unfortunately, +90% of the +3 billion gallons of used cooking oil is recycled into:
1. Cosmetics
2. Pet Feed
3. Animal Feed
Reasons for biodiesel:
1. Bio-diesel emits up to 80% less pollution: winning hearts and minds;
2. Bio-diesel recycles local dollars between kitchens large & small, families/businesses and farmers;
3. Bio-diesel enjoys wide + deep acceptance. Google search "Biodiesel AND": military, municipalities, agriculture, racing, business + consumers;
4. Bio-diesel from local cooperatives enjoys the LOWEST cost of production;
5. Bio-diesel from recycled cooking oil cleans up municipal water systems: for every 10,000 kitchens releasing 1 teaspoon (not a tablespoon, not a cup ... just a teaspoon) daily of used cooking oil down the sink = 7 fifty five gallon oil drums of sludge dumped monthly;
6. Biodiesel is: Non-toxic, Highly Efficient, Recycled, Replaces petroleum diesel in blends 50% to 100%, Inexpensive;
7. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory & U.S. Department of Energy recommend the use of high-level biodiesel blends where human exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM) is elevated + health concerns merit the additional attention;
8. VIRTUALLY ANY diesel truck, bus, generator or car can operate without issues on B50 (Winter Blend) and B99 (Summer Blend) Bio-Diesel with minimal cost upgrades (hoses $8, gaskets $50 and filters $35) that improve engine life + performance;
Or, business as usual (not winning hearts + minds at home + abroad):
1. Petroleum diesel pollution passes directly through the lungs into the blood-stream
2. Cancer risk posed by Diesel is HIGHER than all other air toxins COMBINED
ct@louisvillebiodieselcoop.com
I was very encouraged by the show regarding the Military's use of alternative energy. This is the kind of information that every American should hear-the military needs to launch a public relations campaign that
could inspire Americans to do their part to address this issue as a security, as well as an environmental issue.
. preserving the envirnoment is in itself a security issue.
. energy independence is a security issue.
. alternative energy development is an economic development opport.
As Ret. Admiral McGinn said, individual solar and wind application could be the victory gardens of the 21st century.
Please continue this conversataion. Your show teaches and informs as no other.
Great show. A bracing example of practical and universally promising and helpful policy enacted by people with a mission, without the dead weight of parochial interests and political grandstanding.
AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION for renewable fuel does exists in Florida! Why rehashiing old school biofuels and hydrogen fuel cell techonoloty???
H2 Global's Water Fuel System can power all internal combustible engines without carbon foot prints for pennies. Unlike old school hydrogen technology no filling or storage facilities required. Imagine in war no transporting of POL and forward storage areas?
H2Global has cracked water with only milliamps of current resulting in water fuel tests on big rig trucks increasing mpg up to 300%. Water is abundant, fossil fuels are not. Future test results promise to be more efficient and safe-non combustible.
Ford, GM, Mercedes and India are very interested in the Water Fuel System for light vehicles. Why isnt the US military taking advantage of this home grown technology?
It is so simple I was a skeptic until I saw the demonstratons. Visit www.H4GAS.com for details.
I thoroughly enjoyed this segment which among its many revelations places our Defense Department in the forefront of those who debunk the notion that fossil fuels are forever and cause little or no anthropomorphic global warming.
The NavSec did, however, give me pause to wonder about how high the priority is for the generation of alternative energy sources when his concern was couched in terms of conventional, costs per gallon, per watt, etc.
It seems to me that to reduce the likelihood of harm to our troops, their security ought not be dependent upon the cost per gallon of dollars invested, but rather a standard based on lives saved per dollar of investment.
Since insitu solar reduces the number and size of fuel convoys, then solar has to have the highest priority in the DOD budget. There is no acceptable rationale to do otherwise.
The SecNav mentioned wave energy. This is the most constant and abundant form of relatively free energy on this planet. Harnessing that energy may cost three times fossil fuel and solar energy costs. However, based on the amount of carbon dioxide eliminated from the atmosphere per dollar of investment its ratio would be lower than any other known fuel source.
Similarly, hemp, non-psychoactive, can be processed into fuels and most products made with petroleum. The cost per ton of carbon eliminated or not produced is significantly lower than fossil fuels, solar, and wind.
Henry Ford built a car and today Europeans are building homes and hundreds of other products.
The Defense Department is ideally situated to take the lead in demonstrating the effectiveness, efficiency, and versatility of industrial hemp. Its cultivation in America would be a complement to food crops as well as a source of alternative fuel/energy, unlike other biomass sources.
We have two proven technologies; wave energy and industrial hemp that need to have DOD promotion since both create millions of jobs and absolute energy independence.
Since water vapor is a GHG how soon would it reform to h2o? I can envision billions of tons of water vapor emissions creating enormous heat sinks throughout the world.
I'm jus' sayin. It has the same potential as methane and CO2 for heating the atmosphere.
Don't you think?
Ret. Vice Admiral McGinn said: "There is a great project out at joint base Hickam, Hawaii where Air Force has a large solar array that is using the electricity to convert water through the hydrolysis process into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is being stored in the one kilogram cylinders and its actually powering the fuel cell"
We at Maetec Engineering (http://www.maetecengineering.com/) working in the same direction: converting water into hydrogen and oxygen which allows to store energy in the form of hydrogen and we can do it in a cost effective way. Admiral MgGinn, how can we work together?