As the keynote speaker at the Navy Energy Forum 2010, Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, made it clear that a transition to renewable, cleaner forms of enegy is not an issue of “going green” as much as it is winning wars.
“We are looking at energy, almost as a war fighting function,” Roughead said.
In the wake of a series of deadly attacks on more than ten NATO oil tankers last week outside of Islamabad, Pakistan (see nyt.com), the issue of energy security and military safety has been thrust into the spotlight once again. One of the military’s most time consuming and expensive endeavors is the safe transport of fuel. The government is now seeking to move away from costly and increasingly dangerous types of energy.
“If we can ween ourselves away from fossils fuels … that reduces risk,” said Roughead.
The forum, subtitled “Energy as a Force Muliplier and Strategic Resource,” featured a variety of speakers from the various branches of the government and military all focused on how the the Department of Defense is going to achieve President Obama’s call for 20% of its energy to be taken from renewable resources. As China, Japan, and the European Union make strides in their renewable energy policy’s the US is looking to keep pace while reducing dependency and vulnerability.
Admiral Roughead reiterated, “Its more than simply, how green can we be seen, it really is an operational issue for us.”
Navy Head Calls For Increase In Renewable Energy
By AJ Swartwood
As the keynote speaker at the Navy Energy Forum 2010, Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, made it clear that a transition to renewable, cleaner forms of enegy is not an issue of “going green” as much as it is winning wars.
“We are looking at energy, almost as a war fighting function,” Roughead said.
In the wake of a series of deadly attacks on more than ten NATO oil tankers last week outside of Islamabad, Pakistan (see nyt.com), the issue of energy security and military safety has been thrust into the spotlight once again. One of the military’s most time consuming and expensive endeavors is the safe transport of fuel. The government is now seeking to move away from costly and increasingly dangerous types of energy.
“If we can ween ourselves away from fossils fuels … that reduces risk,” said Roughead.
The forum, subtitled “Energy as a Force Muliplier and Strategic Resource,” featured a variety of speakers from the various branches of the government and military all focused on how the the Department of Defense is going to achieve President Obama’s call for 20% of its energy to be taken from renewable resources. As China, Japan, and the European Union make strides in their renewable energy policy’s the US is looking to keep pace while reducing dependency and vulnerability.
Admiral Roughead reiterated, “Its more than simply, how green can we be seen, it really is an operational issue for us.”