#DOD Drafts Energy Commission in Climate Battle*

Uncle Sam has ordered the armed forces to go green, so Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine installations throughout the state have allied with the California Energy Commission to help installations transition to renewable and alternative energy projects.

From left to right: California Energy Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment) the Honorable Dennis McGinn, Brigadier General Edward D. Banta, Commanding General MCI West-MCB Camp Pendleton.

California has more military installations and operational areas than any other state in the nation. Each branch has its own energy plan developed based on their unique mission requirements.

"It is a natural fit for the Energy Commission and the Department of Defense (DOD) to work together," said Energy Commissioner David Hochschild. "Not only from a policy standpoint, but because many of the installations are located in areas with quality wind, solar and geothermal energy resources, which is a great asset in helping DOD meet its goals and which also contributes to California's Renewables Portfolio Standard."

DOD is the largest single consumer of energy in the country, and like California, it recognizes the strategic, economic and environmental threat posed by the continued dependence on fossil fuels alone and has embraced innovative renewable energy solutions and efficiency strategies. DOD's goal is to have 25 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2025.

In addition to sharing ideas and technologies with installations, the Energy Commission coordinates with renewable energy developers so that proposed projects do not interfere with space owned, leased or used for military for training or testing; and helps funds innovative energy research demonstration projects like the vehicle-to-grid program at Los Angeles AFB, which features the largest fleet of non-tactical plug-in vehicles in the federal government.

Check out more stories like this in the latest edition of the Energy Commission�s newsletter, the Spark.