Monday, April 13, 2009

Pentagon Prioritizes Pursuit Of Alternative Fuel Sources

The Pentagon is using new technologies to save energy. A portable refinery that turned garbage into biofuel to power a generator was deployed to Iraq. (Photos Courtesy Of Department Of Defense)

From the Washington Post:

For the Defense Department, the largest consumer of energy in the United States, addiction to fuel has greater costs than the roughly $18 billion the agency spent on it last year.

By some estimates, about half of the U.S. military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan are related to attacks with improvised explosive devices on convoys, many of which are carrying fuel. As of March 20, 3,426 service members had been killed by hostile fire in Iraq, 1,823 of them victims of IEDs.

Read more ....

My Comment: In future asymmetrical conflicts, energy sources and transport will be crucial in any battle. The stats on injured/killed personnel while transporting goods and materials in a war zone (like Iraq) is eye popping .... but not surprising. I guess the military is now figuring that out also.

No comments: