Blue to Green: How Past Energy Transitions Inform the Department of Defense's Energy Strategy
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DOD) combines the most powerful collection of armed forces on the planet. To operate this remarkable array of men and machines the DOD depends on the steady supply of a finite resource: oil. To mitigate its singular dependence on oil, the DOD is examining a myriad of alternative energy sources. However, incorporating a new energy source into an existing energy infrastructure is a daunting task that can fundamentally shake an organization to its core. Yet, as the DOD moves forward in assessing new energy technologies it can draw from its rich history of energy transitions and technological evolution to inform its decisions. This study examines three such transformations: the Navy's transition from sail- to steam-powered warships, the replacement of diesel-electric submarines by nuclear-powered submarines, and the DOD's current efforts to incorporate renewable biofuels into its existing oil-based infrastructure. This study evaluates each case study through several different lenses in an effort to distill lessons learned and aid the recognition of recurring themes. In doing so, it builds upon several theories of technological change while also relying on a variety of analytical tools to determine those factors that hindered or aided the military's conversion of a primary energy source. In conclusion, this study recalls and synthesizes the salient points from each example in order to provide a framework for analyzing potential energy transitions of the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- AD1019379
Entities
People
- Cory A. Cook
Organizations
- Air University