Norman D. Dicks: “The amendment cuts $115.5 million in funding for development of alternative energy. The bill includes funding based in…”

“The amendment cuts $115.5 million in funding for development of alternative energy. The bill includes funding based in part on the Defense Science Board's February 2008 report on DOD energy strategy. The DSB report made numerous recommendations to improve DOD energy efficiency. In addition, the committee held a formal briefing with officials from the Military Services, the Defense Logistic Agency, and OSD to review energy efficiency and energy technology programs. DOD is the largest single consumer of energy in the United States. In 2006, it spent $13.6 billion to buy 110 million barrels of petroleum fuel--about 300,000 barrels of oil each day--and 3.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. This represents about eight-tenths of 1 percent of total U.S. energy consumption and 78 percent of energy consumption by the Federal Government. In combat operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan, moving fuel to deployed forces has proven to be a high-risk operation. Reducing operational fuel demand is the single best means to reduce that risk. However, the Defense Science Board concluded that DOD is not currently equipped to make decision on the most effective way to do so. The DSB recommended increased investment in energy efficient and alternative energy technologies to a level commensurate with their operational and financial value.”