The Pentagon feels it is a priority to use renewable energy like  solar panels within the military.  It should be as much if not more of  a priority to get everyone inside the U.S. using renewable energy as soon as possible too.

From DID in May, 2010:  On July 25/06 Al-Anbar commander and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer submitted an MNF-W priority 1 request. It pointed to the hazards inherent in American supply lines, and noted that many of the supply convoys on Iraq’s roads (up to 70%, by some reports) were carrying fuel. Much of that fuel wasn’t even for vehicles, but for diesel generators used to generate power at US bases. That is still true, and Afghanistan has even more daunting logistics. By some estimates, shipping each gallon of fuel to Afghanistan requires 7 gallons of fuel for transport.

A number of Pentagon projects use alternative energy at various installations, but Zilmer’s request is believed to have been the first formal request from a front-line commander. . . . .

Newly updated developments:

•    The Need on the Ground [updated]
•    Options and Considerations [updated]
•    Contracts and Key Developments
•    Additional Readings [updated]

Very interesting are some of the developments from last month:

May 21/10: During exercise African Lion in Morocco, Marines test a portable system called the Expeditionary Forward Operating Base program (ExFOB). The system uses portable SLMCO water purification systems and Zero Base power generation systems, in order to provide drinking water, LED lights for a medium size general purpose tent, and power outlets for small electrical devices like ruggedized laptop computers. USMC.

May 18/10: The US Army announces that it will hold its first-ever Renewable Energy Rodeo and Symposium June 8-9 at Fort Bliss, TX.

May 6/10: Lockheed Martin announces a $3.5 million contract to develop the containerized Integrated Smart-BEAR Power System (ISBPS) for the U.S. Air Force. The Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) program equips U.S. forces with lightweight, air-transportable gear used to establish mobile air bases. ISBPS will integrate a variety of energy sources, including renewables, into the existing BEAR power grid, with goals to reduce fuel consumption by 25% and improve power availability. Lockheed is partnered with SkyBuilt Power.

Read more at the links above.

Why is the military so busy at developing and using renewable energy, and our own government is not?  As they are doing all of this, we still have people in Congress (who fund the Pentagon, obviously) who still deny global warming is happening.  Obviously, the Pentagon k knows it is, and knows the important of renewable energy.

Now if they could be even more conserving of their energy use and stop waging senseless wars and shut down international military bases that we don’t need to keep open. Think how much smaller our military’s carbon footprint would be if they stopped the wars [...]