US Defense Department vows to march to a greener drum

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has inked an agreement with the Department of Energy (DoE) to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technology intended to provide better protection for troops and secure the country’s energy supply.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two departments last week will see the agencies collaborate on a number of areas including energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, transportation and deploying new nuclear power stations near military bases.

Earlier this year, the DoD announced plans to partner with other US agencies to deploy cleaner energy technologies, as part of its long-term Quadrennial Defense Review. In particular, the department is concerned that fuel trucks need to travel through open areas at high risk of insurgent attacks in warfare.

The DoD currently takes up an unsustainable 80 per cent of the federal government energy consumption, it said, while the Defense Logistics Agency delivers more than 170,000 barrels of oil each day to the war theatres, at a cost of $9.6bn (£6.1bn) last year.

“Energy efficiency can serve as a force multiplier, increasing the range and endurance of forces in the field, while reducing the number of combative forces diverted to protect enemy lines, as well as reducing long-term energy costs,” stated the MOU.

Meanwhile the DoE said it hopes the agreement will provide the opportunity to accelerate the testing of advanced technologies and develop better expertise to improve the country's economic recovery and promote scientific and technological innovation.

"Working together, we can speed the transition to a clean energy economy, while helping to protect our troops. Building a new energy future is the right thing to do to strengthen our national security, to promote economic prosperity, and to improve our environment. It is also the right thing to do for our men and women in uniform,” said deputy energy secretary Daniel Poneman.