Investing in Renewable Energy Is a Matter of National Security

Because two-thirds of the Defense Department's (DoD) $10.6 billion energy budget goes toward foreign sources of oil, the military is at the mercy of rising fuel costs and possible disruptions in supply, according to these two members of Congress.

The DoD has already done some R&D in renewable resources. But Bartlett and Israel said that the DoD needs to pay much closer attention to alternative sources of energy or risk becoming a political hostage to oil-producing nations in troubled regions.

"Our reliance on foreign energy is a glaring vulnerability," said Representative Israel. "We need to come up with a solution now."

Last month, both men announced the formation of the Congressional Defense Energy Working Group, a coalition of lawmakers and political figures dedicated to promoting the advancement of renewable energy in the military. They both co-chair the group, which will work with DoD officials to find the most fitting and cost-effective energy alternatives for the military.

Want to hear the whole conversation? Click on the link below to listen to the Inside Renewable Energy podcast.