U.S. Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels

[piercehawkeye45]

With insurgents increasingly attacking the American fuel supply convoys that lumber across the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, the military is pushing aggressively to develop, test and deploy renewable energy to decrease its need to transport fossil fuels.

Solar power was tested in May in Morocco. A Marine company brought some renewable energy equipment to Afghanistan.
Last week, a Marine company from California arrived in the rugged outback of Helmand Province bearing novel equipment: portable solar panels that fold up into boxes; energy-conserving lights; solar tent shields that provide shade and electricity; solar chargers for computers and communications equipment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/sc...nted=1&_r=1&hp

In my opinion, this is probably the best thing that can happen for alternative energy. It all comes down to practicality and the US civilian population is not going to adopt alternative energy until it becomes practical to do so (cheaper or more convenient). If the military invests heavily in alternative energy, they will try to make it as practical as possible for them leading to innovations that will speed up the process of getting it to the civilian population.

“If the Navy comes knocking, they will build it,” Mr. Mabus said. “The price will come down and the infrastructure will be created.”