As veterans and members of the security community, we believe it is critical the American people support the important efforts of the Department of Defense (DoD) to make our nation more energy independent and secure. The DoD is one of the largest institutional energy users in the world, consuming more than 300,000 barrels of oil per day. Volatile global oil markets expose DoD to price spikes. This instability was highlighted in a landmark report by the Defense Science Board entitled “More Fight–Less Fuel,” which recommended that the Pentagon initiate energy innovations to reduce risk to soldiers and enhance the military’s long-term energy security. Following this recommendation, DoD is stepping forward, as it has done for generations, to find solutions. As long as U.S. and global economic security are dependent on oil produced in volatile regions of the world, our military will be required to continue deployments and dangerous missions to ensure the free world trade and security of vital energy resources through international sea lanes. As long as our military is highly dependent on petroleum fuels to power its planes, ships and ground vehicles, and to supply troops at forward operating bases, brave servicemen and women will be at risk transporting and delivering fuel supplies. And because those fuel supplies are vulnerable to sharp world market fluctuations in price, military budgets will be vulnerable as well. Technological innovations across the energy sector are crucial to the security of the United States and the interests of the armed forces. True to form, DoD is responding to these risks in forceful fashion with programs to increase vehicle efficiency, enhance energy efficiency, deploy renewables and adopt advanced biofuels as a way to diversify its energy sources and reduce demand and costs. The U.S. national security network is doing its part to break the military from the tether of imported oil, reduce mission performance risks, deny income to regimes hostile to America’s interests, and strengthen our economy and ensure that scarce budgetary resources are maximized. But they cannot do it alone. As a country, we must support efforts inside and outside the Department of Defense to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, deploy clean energy technology and move our nation toward energy independence. It is vital to our national security, our economic security, and our obligation to the brave men and women in uniform who serve in missions around the world. National security leaders and military veterans of all ranks and all generations are adding their support to this urgent message. To the Congress and the American People: President, Members of U.S. AIR FORCE U.S. AIR FORCE JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD U.S. NAVY U.S. NAVY U.S. AIR FORCE. Sincerely,
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To the President, Sen. John Warner, chairman, ... Minneapolis, MN John Magner, USMC, Plymouth, MA Charles Malone, USA, ... John McCoy, …
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As veterans and members of the security community, we
believe it is critical the American people support the
important efforts of the Department of Defense (DoD) to
make our nation more energy independent and secure.
The DoD is one of the largest institutional energy users in
the world, consuming more than 300,000 barrels of oil per
day. Volatile global oil markets expose DoD to price spikes.
This instability was highlighted in a landmark report by the