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Military Could Produce 7 GW of Solar, Study Finds
http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/17/military-could-produce-7-gw-of-solar-study-finds/Seven military bases in California and two in Nevada could produce a hefty 7 GW of power from renewable solar and wind power, according to an extensive study the military commissioned from ICF International.
The study found that even though 96% of the surface area of the nine bases is unsuited for solar development because of military use, endangered species and other factors, the solar-compatible area is nevertheless large enough to generate more than 30 times the electricity actually used by the California bases, according to E&E News.
Like all federal agencies, the Department of Defense is under an administration mandate to produce clean energy to cut its carbon emissions 28% by 2020, and it has a $4 billion annual energy bill.
Military bases occupy more than 30 million acres of land, much of it in areas with lots of sun, and they need a secure supply of electricity as a matter of security, and commissioned the study to clarify the path to a solution.
Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/15gnx)
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