Obama administation to install 3GW on military installations

April 12, 2012 - Nilima Choudhury - pv-tech.org

US President Barak Obama believes national security lies in energy independence. Overall, the country’s reliance on foreign oil has fallen since 2005, with net imports of total consumption declining from 57% in 2008 to 45% in 2011 – claimed by the administration to be the lowest level since 1995.

Interestingly, on the one hand the administration cites America’s crude oil production as having reached its highest level since 2003 – an increase of 120,000 barrels per day. On the other hand, it announces the US Department of Defence will be deploying 3GW of renewable energy on army, navy and air force installations by 2020. The DoD claims this will be enough to power 750,000 homes. The DoD has set a target of generating 25% of its energy from renewables by 2025.

The Obama administration is also supporting the Army’s new 30,000 square feet laboratory to develop technology for next-generation combat vehicles. Opened, on April 11, at Detroit Arsenal, it will test and demonstrate advanced vehicle technology including fuel cells, hybrid systems, battery technologies and alternative fuels.

Financing for these projects is expected from private sector financing.