A new report commissioned by DOD states that the US military will find handling crises around the world “unsustainable in the long term” because of rising fuel costs, reports Bryan Bender of the Boston Globe. According to Bender, who obtained a copy of “Transforming the Way DOD Looks at Energy” prepared by LMI Government Consulting, the report serves as a “potential blueprint for a new military energy strategy.” The Air Force, as DOD’s largest energy consumer—predominantly for aviation fuel—already has embarked on alternative fuel strategies, including synthetic fuel to propel aircraft and solar energy to run bases.
The Air Force is planning to spend $2.19 billion over the next five years to acquire new C-37 jets for transporting military and civilian leaders. That’s on top of another $1.17 billion in projected funding for the VC-25B “Air Force One” replacement.