Power Surge: How the U.S. Military is Financing Clean Energy

Thursday, 23 January 2014 00:00 Katerina Oskarsson
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Pew’s new report, “Power Surge”, examines how the U.S. military is using private-sector capabilities and harnessing innovative financing to obtain advanced energy systems. The Pew research finds that private-public partnership is key to growth.  According to the study, the number of energy savings and efficiency projects at military installations more than doubled between 2010 and 2012 fiscal year, and the number of renewable energy projects increased from 454 to 700 during the same period. Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s project on national security, energy, and climate noted “The military’s clean energy installation initiatives are gathering momentum, enhancing base energy security. These improvements are possible even as the Pentagon’s budget is shrinking because the armed services are harnessing private-sector expertise and resources. This is a win-win-win proposition: The military gets better energy infrastructure, taxpayer dollars are saved, and the clean energy industry is finding new market opportunities.”