James Murray, BusinessGreen, Tuesday 19 May 2009 at 00:15:00
Report from influential generals and admirals warns fragile US energy infrastructure poses serious national security threat
The US needs to diversify its energy mix to incorporate more renewables, reduce its reliance on both foreign and domestic oil, improve the resilience of its energy grid, better prepare for the impact of climate change risks, and make wider use of federal procurement to drive the development of low carbon technologies.
Not the latest wish list from Greenpeace or the WWF, but a hard-hitting new report from an influential panel of retired US admirals and generals, which argues that the fragility of US energy supplies and the likely impact of climate change pose a serious security threat that is "exploitable by those who wish to do us harm".
The report, Powering America's Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security, was developed by a Military Advisory Board (MAB) of former high ranking figures from across the US military brought together by US security think tank CNA.
It recommends that a major overhaul of US energy policy is required to address burgeoning security threats, and reiterates warnings from a 2007 report which concluded that the impact of climate change would pose serious and escalating threats to US national security.
Describing the report as "a sobering but honest, and necessary assessment" of current US energy policy, MAB chairman General Charles F. "Chuck" Wald said that the current recession should not be used as an excuse to delay efforts to diversify US energy supplies.
Retired US generals call for low carbon revolution
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