House Republicans Attempt To Nix Military's Clean Energy Initiatives [View all]

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From http://desmogblog.com/house-republicans-attempt-nix-military-s-clean-energy-initiativesDeSmogBlog
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Republicans on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee have decided that the military’s push for clean, renewable energy has gone far enough, and have proposed for next year’s budget that the Pentagon not spend a dime on renewable energy sources that cost more than traditional dirty energy.

This news comes on the heels of the Navy’s announcement of their new “Great Green Fleet,” which features an aircraft carrier and strike group that are all powered by renewable, cleaner energy sources.

The shift in policy came from the House Armed Services Committee, chaired by California Republican Howard “Buck” McKeon. Republicans on the committee complain that the fuel being used for the “green fleet” and other military renewable energy projects is too costly, and contend that the military should never spend more on a renewable energy source that is more costly than traditional petroleum.

House Republicans are absolutely right – this issue is squarely about money. But it isn’t the money that the Committee is spending; it is the money they are receiving, specifically from the energy industry. The 35 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee have, combined, over their careers, received millions of dollars from the energy sector. Here are just a few examples, showing the totals that Republican members have received from the energy sector (data from the Center for Responsive Politics):

Chairman Howard McKeon – $200,200

Roscoe Bartlett – $156,500

Mac Thornberry – $656,854 (oil industry is his largest donor.)

Todd Akin – $156,500

J. Randy Forbes – $117,500

Jeff Miller – $144,250

Joe Wilson – $207,356

Allen West – $129,299


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