Ah, we will get renewable energy, I'm sure.

[Skidmore]

The military is now complaining about dependence on foreign energy sources being a national security issue and putting the troops in harm's way. MSNBC just had a major general on talking about this. Kinda think that this hasn't happened because the military hasn't needed us to have other technologies so long as it could just stomp on another nation to get their resources. These attacks on supply lines in Pakistan have been a wakeup call for them and I think the kind of fighting that the Taliban and other extremists engage in makes it much more difficult for them to wield the great war machine.

Yeah, we'll get renewable energy, but for all the wrong reasons...we'll get it so that it is easier for the military to fight.

[rucky]

1. the military will get it before private industry

they don't have ROI to worry about.

Private industry will get it when we start ratcheting down fossil fuel subsidies, which could be anywhere between 5 years and never.

[Subdivisions]

2. The reason the military is looking at alternatives is because they are aware of peak oil...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/apr/11/peak-oil-production-supply

http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/peak-oil-military/1121

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/u-s-military-needs-to-get-off-oil-by-2040.php

And the Gernman military is also concerned about the future of oil:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/the-german-military-is-freaked-out-by-peak-oil.php

It's not as if the peak of oil production, which was reached FIVE YEARS AGO, is a secret:

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/05/3081844/running-on-empty-the-end-of-oil.html

There's lots out there on the topic. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT:

http://www.google.com/search?q=u.s.+military+peak+oil&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLR_en


If the militaries of the U.S. and Germany (and others) are concerned about replacing oil, shouldn't we all be? But, as a collective, we either pooh-pooh the idea or reject it altogether. I, for one, won't let this problem sneak up on me.

[Subdivisions]

3. Kick. Will you ignore this information? n/t

[drm604]

4. Yes, but there's no guarantee that it will be carbon neutral.

The military may simply push for things like synthetic liquid fuels made from coal or methane hydrates from the ocean floor.

[Subdivisions]

5. Coal production will peak next year and begin to decline. Any use of coal to produce

liquid fuel will not only experience rising costs from declining resources, it will also cause that resource to deplete even faster.

Is there a single methane hydrate production facility is operation today? Is there any infrastructure anywhere for the production of methane hydrates?

[drm604]

7. My understanding was the we have hundres of years worth of coal yet.

Not that we should use it, we shouldn't, but I've always heard that we have plenty.

Maybe I've heard wrong.

[Subdivisions]

8. Well, think again...

Those of us who watch energy issues on a daily basis know better...

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/09/29/29greenwire-study-worlds-peak-coal-moment-has-arrived-70121.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=peak+coal+journal+energy&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLR_en

[BeFree]

6. wow

Just like the American revolution when the British supply lines were cut by the homeland American revolutionary 'insurgents'.

War is bad on supply lines.

[DirkGently]

9. We need solar tanks to secure those oil fields! Er.