Regan Brown
The US military is the world's largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels, responsible for 93% of US government fuel consumption in 2007. The Department of Defense (DoD) is the country's biggest energy consumer, accounting for 1% of total energy use in the US. The DoD uses 4.6 billion US gallons of fuel annually, an average of 12.6 million US gallons per day. The Air Force is the largest user of fuel in the federal government, using 10% of the nation's aviation fuel. The US military's fossil fuel usage has led to it being one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters, with emissions of around 51 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually in recent years.
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What You'll Learn
The US military is the world's largest consumer of fossil fuels
The US military's high fuel consumption is due to its extensive network of fossil-fueled ships, trucks, planes, and other vehicles. Aircraft are particularly fuel-intensive, with the B-2 stealth bomber burning 4.28 gallons of jet fuel per mile and emitting 250 metric tons of greenhouse gas over a 6,000-nautical-mile range. The Air Force, the largest user of fuel energy in the federal government, uses 10% of the nation's aviation fuel, with 82% of its fuel usage going towards jet fuel. The Air Force's F-35A plane gets about 2.37 gallons of fuel per nautical mile, emitting almost 28 metric tons of carbon dioxide per tank.
The US military has recognized the need to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and mitigate its impact on the environment. The DoD has implemented initiatives such as the Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) to improve energy and water efficiency in military facilities, saving on energy usage and costs. The military has also started using renewable energy sources, such as biofuel blends, for transportation and military bases. The Army has experimented with electric vehicles, and the Navy deployed the Great Green Fleet in 2016 to highlight its commitment to reducing fossil fuel use.
Despite these efforts, the US military's fossil fuel consumption and emissions remain a concern. The Pentagon, which falls under the DoD, is the world's biggest single greenhouse gas emitter. The US military's emissions are about 51 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually in the last two years, larger than the emissions of most countries. The military's destruction of property and burning of infrastructure during wars further increase its carbon footprint. The US military's doctrine has been criticized for not adequately addressing the decreasing sources of oil input, such as Persian Gulf oil.
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The US military emits more CO2 than some countries
The US military is the world's single largest consumer of oil, and as a result, it is one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters. The Department of Defense (DoD) uses 4,600,000,000 US gallons (1.7×10^10 L) of fuel annually, an average of 12,600,000 US gallons (48,000,000 L) of fuel per day. If the DoD were a country, it would rank 34th in the world in average daily oil use, just ahead of Sweden.
The US military's significant contribution to climate change has received little attention. This is partly due to a loophole in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the world's first legally binding international climate treaty, which exempts many of the greenhouse gases emitted during military operations from counting against a country's emissions totals. While the 2015 Paris Accords removed this exemption, they did not replace it with an obligation to report. As a result, the US military's emissions are often scattered and incomplete, with major categories of fuel consumption, such as aviation fuel, missing.
However, according to a report from Brown University, the US military has emitted an estimated 1,212 million metric tons of greenhouse gases since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. In 2017 alone, CO2 emissions added up to 59 million tons, more than many industrialized nations, including Sweden and Switzerland. The Pentagon would be the world's 55th largest CO2 emitter if it were a country. The US military also emits more carbon dioxide than entire countries like Denmark and Portugal.
The US military recognizes that renewable energy can provide improvements in force safety and budget stability, as well as help mitigate climate change. As a result, it has implemented several programs and initiatives to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and increase the use of renewable energy sources. For example, the Marine Corps established the Expeditionary Energy Office to reduce the need for liquid fossil fuel by 50% by 2025, and the Air Force plans to certify its entire fleet on coal-to-liquid synthetic fuel blends. The Defense Department also plans to invest $9 billion to improve energy use in military operations.
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The US Air Force uses 10% of the nation's aviation fuel
The US military is the world's single largest consumer of oil and one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters. The Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the world's largest single consumers of energy. In 2007, the DoD was responsible for 93% of all US government fuel consumption. The US military consumes 77% of the government's energy, which equates to around 4,600,000,000 US gallons of fuel annually.
The US Air Force is the largest user of fuel energy in the federal government. The Air Force uses 52% of the DoD's fuel consumption. To put this into perspective, in 2006, the entire DoD used almost 30,000 gigawatt hours of electricity, costing almost $2.2 billion. The Air Force uses 10% of the nation's aviation fuel. This breaks down to 82% jet fuel, 16% facility management, and 2% ground vehicle/equipment.
The Air Force has been a pioneer in renewable energy development and leadership. To meet renewable energy goals, the Air Force planned to certify its entire fleet on coal-to-liquid synthetic fuel blends by 2011. By 2016, it aimed to fuel half of its domestic transportation with US-produced synthetic blends, including biofuels and jet fuels, known as Hydrotreated Renewable Jet (HRJ). The Air Force is the leading purchaser of renewable energy within the Federal government.
The DoD is investing in a range of initiatives to improve the efficiency of legacy aircraft and develop more energy-efficient aircraft. The DoD is also participating in the Biden administration's SAF Grand Challenge, which aims to reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and expand the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The DoD's Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) improves the energy and water efficiency of existing Military Services' facilities, helping to save on energy usage and costs.
The US military has started using renewable energy for transportation and military bases, turning garbage into ethanol, composite gas, and benign ash. The Navy has also made efforts to reduce fossil fuel use, such as deploying the Great Green Fleet in 2016.
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The US military's renewable energy initiatives
The US military is the world's single largest consumer of oil and one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters. The Department of Defense (DoD) is the US government's biggest energy consumer, accounting for around 1% of total energy use in the country. The US military consumes 77% of the government's energy.
The US military's significant contribution to climate change has received little attention. However, the Defense Department has significantly reduced its fossil fuel consumption since the early 2000s. The military recognizes that renewable energy can provide improvements in force safety and budget stability as well as mitigate climate change. It has several programs working on deploying alternative energy at major facilities and in forward-operating bases.
The Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery Program is one such initiative, which converts one short ton (0.91 t) of waste into 11 US gallons (42 L) of JP-8 fuel. Other strategies include a photovoltaic flexible, portable mat, insulating foam technology, hybrid-electric Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV), and highly efficient portable cells.
The US Navy has deployed hybrid-drive ships to extend time at sea, and the Marine Corps has established the Expeditionary Energy Office to increase combat effectiveness by reducing the need for liquid fossil fuel by 50% by 2025, using liquid fuel only for mobility. The Navy also deployed the Great Green Fleet in 2016, a year-long event highlighting the military's commitment to reducing fossil fuel use.
The Air Force, the largest user of fuel energy in the federal government, plans to certify its entire fleet on coal-to-liquid synthetic fuel blends by 2011. By 2016, it aimed to fuel half of its domestic transportation with US-produced synthetic blends, including biofuels and jet fuels, known as Hydrotreated Renewable Jet (HRJ).
The Pentagon has reported to Congress that droughts and floods caused by climate change pose a security threat, contributing to foreign political and economic instability that could require substantial troop deployments. The number of military renewable energy projects nearly tripled to 1,390 between 2011 and 2015, with many of these projects based at US bases, allowing the military to maintain its own independent source of power in case of a natural disaster or an attack that disables the public grid.
The US military's use of oil fell by more than 20% between 2007 and 2015, and military leaders remain committed to incorporating clean energy into their assets, with support for renewable energy rising in all branches of the US Armed Forces.
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The US military's fossil fuel usage and emissions output
The US military is the largest user of fossil fuels in the US government, consuming 77% of the government's energy. The Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the world's largest single energy consumers, if not the largest, and is responsible for 93% of all US government fuel consumption. In 2006, the DoD used almost 30,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, costing almost $2.2 billion. The DoD uses 4,600,000,000 US gallons of fuel annually, an average of 12,600,000 US gallons per day. The Air Force is the largest user of fuel energy in the federal government, using 10% of the nation's aviation fuel.
The US military's extensive network of fossil-fueled ships, trucks, planes, and other vehicles contributes to its emissions output. Aircraft are particularly fuel-intensive, with the B-2 stealth bomber, for example, burning 4.28 gallons of jet fuel per mile and emitting more than 250 metric tons of greenhouse gas over a 6,000-nautical-mile range. The US military's F-35 plane burns about 5,600 liters of fuel per hour, compared to 3,500 liters per hour for its predecessor, the F-16. The Air Force's version of the F-35, the F-35A, gets about 2.37 gallons of fuel per nautical mile, emitting almost 28 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent on a single tank of gas.
To reduce its fossil fuel usage and emissions output, the US military has implemented various initiatives. The Army has begun experimenting with the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 fuel-cell electric truck, which runs on hydrogen instead of a battery charge. The Air Force also drives hydrogen-fueled non-tactical vehicles in Hawaii. The Army installed its first microgrid in 2013, which includes a solar array, energy storage system, and interconnection to the larger energy grid. The military plans to incorporate microgrids in 100% of its bases by 2035 and deploy an all-electric fleet of non-tactical vehicles by 2035. The DoD's Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) improves the energy and water efficiency of existing Military Services' facilities, helping to reduce energy usage and costs.
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Frequently asked questions
The US military is the world's single largest consumer of fossil fuels, responsible for 93% of all US government fuel consumption in 2007. The Department of Defense uses 4,600,000,000 US gallons of fuel annually.
The Defense Logistics Agency tracks fuel purchases, but the Pentagon does not consistently report fuel consumption to Congress. The Department of Energy publishes data on energy production and fuel consumption, but there are still gaps in reporting, especially regarding overseas operations.
The US military emits about 51 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually in the last two years. This is a reduction from past emissions but is still larger than the emissions of most countries.
The US military has implemented various initiatives to reduce its fossil fuel consumption, including using renewable energy, weatherizing buildings, and reducing aircraft idling time on runways. The DoD is also investing in electric vehicles and exploring alternative energy sources such as biofuel blends.
Reducing fossil fuel consumption can help mitigate climate change, improve troop safety, and stabilize the military's budget. Additionally, decreasing military dependence on oil can enhance national security by reducing vulnerability to attacks on oil convoys in war zones.
