THE US military brings a whole new dimension to the phrase "gas guzzler". From the fuel efficiency of its battle tanks - measured in gallons per mile - to a total consumption of oil that exceeds that of most nation states, the Pentagon looks like an environmentalist's nightmare.
This appetite for energy is at last being seen as a threat, though not to the environment: the top brass understands that relying on dwindling oil supplies from unstable or hostile countries is a bad idea. That is why they are adopting ambitious goals for renewable energy (see "Eco-warriors: US military pushes for green energy").
The Pentagon's drive for green energy represents a tremendous opportunity. If the military meets its targets, it could transform the energy landscape to everyone's benefit. When it comes to creating markets for new technologies, the Pentagon's procurement machine has no equal. If it decides to pump money into green energy, the economics suddenly look more favourable. They don't call it the military-industrial complex for nothing.
The opportunities are not just economic. Some psychologists have long argued that military involvement in green issues could help break down scepticism about climate change on the US right. So far, it hasn't turned out that way. Some Republican members of Congress want to bar the Pentagon from buying green fuels that cost more than conventional ones.
That smacks of special pleading for vested interests, and is likely to be a false economy anyway. It may be worth paying more in the short term to nurture technologies that offer a home-grown, stable alternative to volatile oil markets.
Wider economic returns are also worth considering. US politicians on both sides like to laud Google and other firms that have earned billions from the internet. It's easy to forget that this was once a fringe technology, nurtured by Pentagon investment. Letting the military lead the way might be the best way to build a new energy economy.
Greens, too, should support the manoeuvre. They may not like the idea of the US military muscling in on "their" crusade. But when you've got a war to fight, it helps to have the big boys on your side.
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The US military is a useful ally on climate change
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