A Less Well-Oiled War Machine

Newswise — For almost a year, North America's largest photovoltaic installation has been generating power in the Nevada desert. Using solar panels that track the sun through the course of each day, this 14-megawatt power plant is unique in more than just its size. It was commissioned by the United States Air Force, a service more known for its aerial prowess than its energy concerns. The solar field is certainly no odder than the U.S. Navy's wind turbines at its base at Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba, or the Navy's 270-megawatt geothermal power plant in southern California. Through projects such as these, about 12 percent of the military's electricity now comes from renewable resources. But bringing renewable energy to military bases is no easy task. As it turns out, a disparate group of Department of Defense employees are pushing the use of home-grown energy sources as a national imperative.