Iowa Global Warming

by John M. Broder New York Times

WASHINGTON — Facing wide criticism over their recent finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public welfare, top Environmental Protection Agency officials said Monday that any regulation of such gases would be phased in gradually and would not impose expensive new rules on most American businesses.

The E.P.A.’s administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, wrote in a letter to eight coal-state Democrats who have sought a moratorium on regulation that only the biggest sources of greenhouse gases would be subjected to limits before 2013. Smaller ones would not be regulated before 2016, she said.
“I share your goals of ensuring economic recovery at this critical time and of addressing greenhouse gas emissions in sensible ways that are consistent with the call for comprehensive energy and climate legislation,” Ms. Jackson wrote.

The eight Democratic senators, led by John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, said hugely significant decisions about energy, the economy and the environment should be made by elected representatives, not by federal bureaucrats.

The senators, who earlier questioned broad cap-and-trade legislation pushed by the Obama administration, join a number of Republican lawmakers, industry groups and officials from Texas, Alabama and Virginia in challenging the proposed E.P.A. regulations of industrial sources. Senate Republicans are going a step further, seeking to prevent the agency from taking any action to limit greenhouse gases, which are tied to global warming.

Ms. Jackson warned that if the Republicans thwarted the agency’s efforts to address climate change, it would kill the deal negotiated last year to limit carbon pollution from cars and light trucks and would have a chilling effect on the government’s scientific studies of global warming.

“It also would be viewed by many as a vote to move the United States to a position behind that of China on the issue of climate change, and more in line with the position of Saudi Arabia,” Ms. Jackson wrote.

The group led by Mr. Rockefeller asked Ms. Jackson to suspend any E.P.A. regulations of stationary sources — including coal-burning power plants and large industrial facilities — while Congress considers comprehensive energy and climate change legislation. The House passed a major climate and energy bill last summer that would have overridden some of the agency’s regulatory authority. The Senate, however, has not acted on the issue and there is considerable doubt that it will do so this year.

“E.P.A. actions in this area would have enormous implications, and these issues need to be handled carefully and appropriately dealt with by the Congress, not in isolation by a federal environmental agency,” Mr. Rockefeller said.

The Democrats who joined Mr. Rockefeller are Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Mark Begich of Alaska, Carl Levin of Michigan, Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Max Baucus of Montana.

Manufacturers, oil companies and business coalitions also filed petitions objecting to the proposed rules.

Environmental advocates said the E.P.A. was justified in declaring carbon dioxide and gases that contribute to global warming to be dangerous pollutants under the Clean Air Act and was moving cautiously to regulate them.

“These answers from Lisa Jackson hopefully will reassure the authors of the letter that the E.P.A. is proceeding in a very measured way and doing what is achievable and affordable to curb global warming pollution and focusing as they should on the biggest sources like power plants and not small businesses,” said David Doniger, climate policy director of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

full story here

By Andrew Freedman

Lately it seems like climate science is being portrayed by the media and politicians as a rapidly fracturing field — with a state of knowledge that is getting less and less certain with each passing day. Thus, it’s refreshing to be able to present a concrete and newsworthy example of how distorted that view really is.

A new study from some of the top researchers on the question of how climate change may affect hurricanes, several of whom have publicly sparred with each other in the past, published a study in Nature Geoscience this week that provides a consensus view of the state of scientific knowledge of how tropical cyclones may change in a warming world.

Their conclusions: Tropical cyclones are likely (greater than 66 percent confidence) to have stronger wind speeds and drop more rainfall due to climate change, and there is a 50 percent chance or greater that some ocean basins would see a large jump in the frequency of the most intense storms. However, the overall global number of tropical cyclones is likely to decrease or stay about the same as it is now.

Or to put it more simply, future storms are likely to be fewer in number, but stronger and wetter.

Tracks of simulated Atlantic Category 4 and 5 hurricanes for the present climate and for a warmer climate condition projected for the late 21st century. Source: Bender et al. 2010.

The study found that projections of globally averaged tropical cyclone intensity show increases of two to 11 percent by 2100. These numbers may vary significantly from region to region, though. For example, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researchers using computer modeling recently found that the frequency of strongest hurricanes (Category 4 and 5 storms) could increase by 80 percent in the western Atlantic by 2100, even though the total number of tropical cyclones would decrease during the same period.

The new study refines the findings of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report of 2007, which put more weight on what, at the time, were new studies that showed the existence of detectable trends in storm intensity, particularly in the North Atlantic.

Given advances in scientific understanding and computer modeling since the IPCC report was prepared, the new study found that uncertainties in tropical cyclone observations are too large to conclude that there has already been a detectable increase in storm intensity, although they noted that several studies have found such trends in some areas.

“… considering available observational studies, and after accounting for potential errors arising from past changes in observing capabilities, it remains uncertain whether past changes in tropical cyclone frequency have exceeded the variability expected through natural causes,” the study states.

The conclusion that future storms are likely to be more intense has important implications for coastal residents, since the combination of increased coastal development, rising sea levels and stronger storms is likely to result in increased damages from future hurricanes.

“The future characteristics of intense tropical cyclones (Category 3-5) deserve particular attention, as these storms historically have accounted for an estimated 85 percent of US hurricane damage, despite representing only 24 percent of US land-falling tropical cyclones,” the researchers warn.

By providing a useful and newsworthy snapshot of where research on the hurricanes-climate change debate stands, the authors of the study have provided an example of how climate scientists can help communicate key findings to the public. Perhaps others in the climate research community can follow this example.

The authors of the study include Thomas Knutson of NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Kerry Emanuel of MIT, Chris Landsea of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, Greg Holland of the National Center for Atmospheric research, and six other experts. Landsea and Emanuel, in particular, have had significant scientific disagreements in the past regarding the role of human activities in changing tropical cyclone behavior.

full article here

Des Moines Register Staff

The National Center for Appropriate Technology and Leopold Center Farm Energy Workgroup will hold a workshop about Department of Agriculture grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy from 12:30 to 4 p.m. March 4 in Carroll.

A specific location has not been determined.

The Rural Energy for America Program is part of the Energy Title of the 2008 Farm Bill.

It provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to help purchase renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements and perform renewable energy feasibility studies. It also funds an energy audit and technical assistance program to serve ag producers and rural businesses.

A representative of Agriculture Department’s Rural Development will discuss the process, which projects are eligible, and where assistance to apply can be found.

E-mail richd@ncat.org for details and reservations.

Learn about cover crops at March 3 event at ISU

The Midwest Cover Crops Council is holding a workshop addressing cover crops on March 3.

The most common cover crop used in Iowa is winter rye, but there are a variety of options, including winter canola, radishes and other small grains.

This workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gallery at the Iowa State Memorial Union in Ames.

Sponsors for the event include the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa State University.

For details or to register, go to www.mcc.msu.edu. Registrations are due Wednesday.

Participants are invited to attend planning meetings for the organization March 4.

Galt farm couple donates $125,000 to new center

A farm couple in Galt has made a $125,000 donation to the Beginning Farmer Center, a program administered by Iowa State University with ISU Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Ronald and Florine Swanson, through a deferred gift, will establish the Swanson Family Beginning Farmer Center Fund to support the work of the center, which conducts programs for farmers who want to transition their farm business to the next generation or individuals who want to get into farming.

Ronald Swanson is a 1961 farm operations graduate of Iowa State. After graduating, he returned to Wright County to operate a family farm south of Clarion.

Florine Swanson is a 1964 home economics education graduate of Iowa State, who served as the executive director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation.

June 1 deadline set for century farm applicants

Eligible farms are encouraged to apply for the 2010 Century and Heritage Farm Program.

The program, sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau, recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms.

Farm families seeking to qualify for the Century or Heritage Farms Program must submit an application no later than June 1.

Applications are available at www.iowaagriculture.gov/heritageFarmsProgram.asp or may be requested from Linda Rosky at (515) 281-3645 or Linda.Rosky@IowaAgriculture.gov. Applicants also can write to the Century or Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

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Lynda Waddington via the  Iowa Independent

The nation’s largest public power company will soon be powering homes and businesses across a seven state area with Iowa wind energy.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal corporation, entered into a 20-year contract with Texas-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC last week. The company will purchase up to 115 megawatts of renewable energy from the Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm, located in Howard and Mitchell counties in northeastern Iowa.

Generation is expected to begin this fall, subject to applicable environmental requirements and firm transmission arrangements being secured. The contracts are a result of a request for proposals TVA issued in December 2008.

Horizon, owned by EDP Renováveis S.A., operates more than 20 wind farms across the U.S. that produce more than 2,800 megawatts of power. The company operates three wind farms in Iowa.

TVA provides electricity for utility and business customers in most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia — an area of 80,000 square miles with a population of 9 million. The company makes no profits and receives no taxpayer money. It is funded by sales of electricity to its customers, and electricity prices in TVA’s service territory are below the national average.

State Senator Matt McCoy via Des Moines Register

A consumer rebate initiative funded by the federal recovery act starts soon and could save you money on new appliances and your energy bills.

Similar to last year’s “cash for clunkers” automotive rebate program, the Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program gives consumers money back when they purchase new, energy efficient appliances.

Another benefit is that these new appliances – including furnaces, air conditioners, refrigerators, washers and dryers – cost less to operate.

A total of $2.8 million will be available for Iowa rebates ranging from $100 to $500. Rebates are for appliances purchased after March 1 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Money is expected to be exhausted within two weeks, so if you’ve been thinking of getting new appliances for your home, act quickly.

Also keep in mind that the appliances purchased through this program may be eligible for tax credits, as well as additional rebates offered by your utility companies.

Learn more about the appliance rebate program at www.energy.iowa.gov.

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This fall, Iowa voters will have the opportunity to create a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. This would be a protected funding source for Iowa’s natural resources, soil conservation and water quality.

The Senate Natural Resources Committee recently passed Senate Study Bill 3198, which outlines how the trust fund would be managed. The bill requires an annual audit to ensure that all money is spent properly.

The effort to establish the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund is the result of three years of work by the Sustainable Funding Advisory Committee, which was created by the Legislature to find ways to improve state programs for natural resources and outdoor recreation.

Full story here

STATE SEN. MATT MCCOY, D-Des Moines, represents District 31. The district includes parts of the city’s west and south sides. He can be reached weekdays at 281-3371 and on weekends at 274-0561. E-mail him at Matt.McCoy@legis.state.ia.us. He also has a Web site: www.senate.iowa.gov/mccoy.

Some wonder if the record snow in places such as Des Moines, and bonebreaking cold temps, mean the climate change theory is wrong. No, it doesn’t, mainstream climate scientists say. In fact, extreme weather can be an indicator of global warming and climate change. It’s the global average temperature over time that is the issue. Read an analysis by James Hansen of NASA

An Essay on Regional Cold Anomalies within Near Record Global Temperature

James Hansen, Reto Ruedy, Makiko Sato, Ken Lo

Overview. Public skepticism about global warming was reinforced by the extreme cold

of December 2009 in the contiguous 48 United States and in much of Eurasia. The summer of

2009 was also unusually cool in the United States. But when a cold spell hits, we need to ask:

* Cold compared to what. Our memory of the past few winters? Winters of our

childhood? Winters earlier in the 20th century?

* Cold where and for how long? Regional cold snaps are expected even with large

global warming. Weather fluctuations can be 10, 20 or 30 degrees, much larger than average

global warming.

* The reality of seasons. As the plot of Earth we live on turns away from the sun, in

winter or at night, it cools off. That’s true even with global warming, albeit not quite so much.

Before addressing these matters, we note that scientists reporting global warming have come

under attack for a supposed conspiracy to manufacture evidence of global warming. Perhaps because

some members of the public accept these charges as reality, vicious personal messages are sent to the

principal scientists almost daily.

The spiral into an almost surrealistic situation with ad hominem attacks on scientists may have

originated in part with vested interests who do not want society to address climate change. But there is

more than that – including honest, wishful thinking that climate change is not really happening. But

wishing does not alter facts.

The scientific method practically defines integrity. [Albert Einstein: “The right to search for truth

implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true.” Richard

Feynman: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to

fool.”] All scientists make honest mistakes, but the scientific method is designed to correct them. The

skeptical nature of the scientific method causes conclusions to be reexamined as new data appears.

Cases of deliberate fudging of data, of scientific fraud, are so rare that these infrequent episodes live in

infamy for decades and even centuries.

We know of no cases of fraud in analyses of global temperature measurements. Despite

unfounded accusations, we believe that our best approach is simply to continue to report our scientific

results as clearly as possible. Most of the public continue to respect scientists for what they do and how

they do it. We presume that most of the public can separate science from political commentary.

Our data show that 2009 was tied for the second warmest year in the 130 years of near‐global

instrumental measurements – and the Southern Hemisphere had its warmest year in that entire period.

Before discussing these data, and their reconciliation with regional cold anomalies, we must consider

the time frame of comparison.

If we look back a century, we find cold anomalies that dwarf current ones. Figure 1 shows

photos of people walking on Niagara Falls in 1911. Such an extreme cold snap is unimaginable today.

About a decade earlier, in February 1899, temperature fell to ‐2°F in Tallahassee, Florida, ‐9°F in Atlanta,

Georgia ‐30°F in Erasmus, Tennessee, ‐47°F in Camp Clark, Nebraska, and ‐61°F in Fort Logan, Montana.

The Mississippi River froze all the way to New Orleans, discharging ice into the Gulf of Mexico.

As we will show, climate is changing, especially during the past 30 years. The changes are

perceptible, even though average temperature change is smaller than weather fluctuations. The answer

to the simple question: “How come it’s so damned cold” turns out to be simple: “Because it’s winter.”

full 14page report can be found here

Benjamin Julian, Environmental Law & Policy Center’s Iowa intern; wrote a letter to the editor for the “Des Moines Register” published in the Sunday Feb. 7 “opinion” page.

A New York Times Jan. 31 article, “China Leading Global Race to Make Clean Energy,” discussed how China is getting ahead of the curve when it comes to clean-energy production.

Though many would find this ridiculous – due to China’s history of environmental degradation and frenzied industrial development – the consequences are very real.

Now, more than ever, green jobs are moving overseas due to a concerted effort to stall clean-energy development in the United States.

In no way are President Barack Obama’s plans for clean energy perfect, but the United States is falling dangerously behind on creating a favorable market for renewable energy.

The ideological battle between Republicans and Democrats in Washington has severely hampered the nation’s ability to produce the next generation of infrastructure and energy. Instead, we have instances of Chinese companies contracting out to wind farm operations in Texas.

Of Iowa’s five major wind-turbine manufacturers, two are from Europe. When will America catch up when it comes to renewable energy?

By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY 

The number of clean-energy jobs in the U.S. would more than double by 2025 if the nation adopts a plan to get 25% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, says a report backed by energy firms.Nationwide, 274,000 jobs would be created in the wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and waste-to-energy industries by 2025 if a 25% standard is adopted, says research firm Navigant Consulting. Those sectors now support about 196,000 jobs.

Navigant did the study for the RES Alliance for Jobs, a consortium of renewable energy companies and others that recommends national renewable electricity targets of 12% in 2014 and 20% in 2020.

Unlike three dozen other countries, including China, the U.S. doesn’t have a national standard to drive use of renewable energy, although it’s being debated in Congress. President Obama has pushed for 25% renewables by 2025. Meanwhile, 30 states have renewable standards. Five have set goals.

But company executives say state standards are often unenforceable and lack the punch of a national standard that would more forcefully drive use of renewables. That would entice companies to put manufacturing and operations in the U.S. as opposed to other countries, they say.

“We’re building this industry right now,” says Don Furman, senior vice president of Iberdrola Renewables, a leading wind farm developer. “We’re really in a footrace with China and Europe to secure these jobs long term. When you create demand, you really create jobs.”

Losing jobs to China

Navigant’s research, based in part on interviews with dozens of energy firms and suppliers, found that every state would see job growth with a 25% standard.

The biggest winners include states already strong in wind power generation or manufacturing, including Texas, Pennsylvania and Colorado. California, a leading solar state, would also be a big beneficiary.

The Southeast, meanwhile, would gain jobs in biomass, which includes turning wood and agricultural products into energy, Navigant says.

On the flip side, many states will lose clean-energy jobs if no national standard is passed, Navigant says. Texas, for one, could lose more than 2,500 jobs given its already big presence in wind and expiring tax credits for wind projects, Navigant says.

Without a strong national standard, Furman says, the U.S. wind industry could even lose jobs, especially to China. Last year, China became the No. 1 maker of wind turbine equipment. It’s also the No. 1 maker of solar cells for solar panels.

While the federal government pumped $150 million in stimulus funds into renewable energy, China is moving faster, Obama told governors Wednesday, while calling for more ethanol production and technology to limit pollution from coal.

Southeast raises concerns

A national electricity standard has faced opposition from Southeastern lawmakers, who fear that it’ll benefit states with big wind and good sun. Southeastern states are largely dependent on coal and nuclear power.

“We’re not opposed to renewables, but we’re of the opinion that states should come up with their own plans,” says David Wright, past president and current commissioner of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. If the Southeast benefits from growth in biomass, he wonders if it’ll lose jobs if coal plants close.

Renewable energy also remains more expensive than coal. Mandates that drive up its use could result in higher energy prices, which could result in lost jobs, says Max Schulz, analyst at the Manhattan Institute, a free-market think tank.

“There’s no question that if you have a national standard, you’ll see an increase in green jobs,” Schulz says. “But you’ll also have harmful effects.”

 Full story here

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A window of opportunity is opening for solar power in the Midwest. The Environmental Law & Policy Center is working to ensure that we seize this opportunity promote solar power development that creates new jobs, spurs economic growth and helps to solve our global warming pollution problems.

Why the time is right to ramp up solar power in the Midwest:

• The economic outlook for solar power is the best it’s been in many years. Solar photovoltaic (PV) module prices have come down to historic lows and recent federal energy legislation and the economic stimulus package are making solar projects more affordable.

• Solar power can bring good returns on investment by meeting our needs during times of peak electrical demand. When we use higher than average amounts of energy, utilities need to buy power on the open market at very expensive rates. Peak demand happens during daylight hours and especially in the summer. Solar power matches up well with pricey peak demand times.

• Former industrial sites in the Midwest can be revitalized as solar power plants. These sites can house 10 – 20 MW projects, large enough to make economic sense and small enough to fit onto the grid. Locating solar plants on older industrial sites gives them unobstructed sunlight and low-cost access to the electrical grid.  The new 10 MW solar plant South Side of Chicago is a perfect example.

• In the current economic downturn, there are plenty of skilled workers looking for “green jobs” like installing solar systems.  Federal and state job creation grants, subsidies, credits and training programs for green jobs are all making it easier to hire workers. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is (re-) training new skilled solar installers at facilities in Illinois, Indiana and other states.

• State and federal policies are working to support solar power. For example, Illinois added a provision to the state’s renewable energy standard that will drive a market for 700-750 megawatts of solar power in the state by 2015.  Midwestern states are streamlining rules for connecting solar to the grid and creating net metering standards that will help solar generators get a good price for the power they generate. Expanding net metering policies to cover larger projects will boost 

solar even more.

People might think solar power only makes sense in places like Arizona and Nevada. But there are some good solar sites here in the Midwest. We’ve got better solar intensity here than both Germany and Japan, the world’s largest solar markets.

What we’re doing:

The right policies can extend this window of opportunity into the future. The Environmental Law & Policy Center and our colleagues are advocating for an earlier ramp up of solar power in Illinois’ renewable energy standard.  We are working on feed-in tariff models in Michigan and with colleagues in Iowa to improve the state’s net metering policies.  As Wisconsin considers boosting its Renewable Energy standard in 2010, there may also be opportunities to include solar provisions.  We have an opportunity to gain solar policy improvements as the unusually low prices and federal economic stimulus incentives drive significant solar development.

Watch ELPC’s Webinar on Solar Power in the Midwest

Watch ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner talk about Midwestern solar power at the nation’s largest urban solar plant in Chicago.

By ANDREW C. REVKIN

The Pentagon released its Quadrennial Defense Review on Monday, a wide-ranging report laying out rising priorities for keeping the peace and, when needed, waging war. For the first time, the report — at the request of lawmakers — considered the significance of climate change for national security, both as a potential source of conflict and a factor in military operations. A core conclusion: Assessments conducted by the intelligence community indicate that climate change could have significant geopolitical impacts around the world, contributing to poverty, environmental degradation, and the further weakening of fragile governments. Climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate mass migration. The report also describes a longstanding, and now intensifying, focus on cutting the use of fuels, which is a huge cost and a security concern on the battlefield. There’s yet another plea — particularly in light of expanding shipping activity in the Arctic Ocean — for ratification of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, which despite support from a series of presidents faces persistent resistance from a small cluster of influential senators. Here’s the section on energy and climate: Crafting a Strategic Approach to Climate and Energy Climate change and energy are two key issues that will play a significant role in shaping the future security environment. Although they produce distinct types of challenges, climate change, energy security and economic stability are inextricably linked. The actions that the department takes now can prepare us to respond effectively to these challenges in the near term and in the future. Climate change will affect DoD in two broad ways. First, climate change will shape the operating environment, roles, and missions that we undertake. The U.S. Global Change Research Program, composed of 13 federal agencies, reported in 2009 that climate-related changes are already being observed in every region of the world, including the United States and its coastal waters. Among these physical changes are increases in heavy downpours, rising temperature and sea level, rapidly retreating glaciers, thawing permafrost, lengthening growing seasons, lengthening ice-free seasons in the oceans and on lakes and rivers, earlier snowmelt and alterations in river flows. Assessments conducted by the intelligence community indicate that climate change could have significant geopolitical impacts around the world, contributing to poverty, environmental degradation and the further weakening of fragile governments. Climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease and may spur or exacerbate mass migration. While climate change alone does not cause conflict, it may act as an accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden to respond on civilian institutions and militaries around the world. In addition, extreme weather events may lead to increased demands for defense support to civil authorities for humanitarian assistance or disaster response both within the United States an overseas. In some nations, the military is the only institution with the capacity to respond to a large-scale natural disaster. Proactive engagement with these countries can help build their capability to respond to such events. Working closely with relevant U.S. departments and agencies, DoD has undertaken environmental security cooperative initiatives with foreign militaries that represent a nonthreatening way of building trust, sharing best practices on installations management and operations and developing response capacity. Second, DoD will need to adjust to the impacts of climate change on our facilities and military capabilities. The department already provides environmental stewardship at hundreds of DoD installations throughout the United States and around the world, working diligently to meet resource efficiency and sustainability goals as set by relevant laws and executive orders. Although the United States has significant capacity to adapt to climate change, it will pose challenges for civil society and DoD alike, particularly in light of the nation’s extensive coastal infrastructure. In 2008, the National Intelligence Council judged that more than 30 U.S. military installations were already facing elevated levels of risk from rising sea levels. DoD’s operational readiness hinges on continued access to land, air, and sea training and test space. Consequently, the department must complete a comprehensive assessment of all installations to assess the potential impacts of climate change on its missions and adapt as required. In this regard, DoD will work to foster efforts to assess, adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Domestically, the department will leverage the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, a joint effort among DoD, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, to develop climate change assessment tools. Abroad, the department will increase its investment in the Defense Environmental International Cooperation Program not only to promote cooperation on environmental security issues, but also to augment international adaptation efforts. The department will also speed innovative energy and conservation technologies from laboratories to military end users. The Environmental Security and Technology Certification Program uses military installations as a test bed to demonstrate and create a market for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies coming out of the private sector and DoD and Department of Energy laboratories. Finally, the department is improving small-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at military installations through our Energy Conservation Investment Program. The effect of changing climate on the department’s operating environment is evident in the maritime commons of the Arctic. The opening of the Arctic waters in the decades ahead which will permit seasonal commerce, and transit presents a unique opportunity to work collaboratively in multilateral forums to promote a balanced approach to improving human and environmental security in the region. In that effort, DoD must work with the Coast Guard and the department of Homeland Security to address gaps in Arctic communications, domain awareness, search and rescue, and environmental observation and forecasting capabilities to support both current and future planning and operations. To support cooperative engagement in the Arctic, DoD strongly supports accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As climate science advances, the department will regularly re-evaluate climate change risks and opportunities in order to develop policies and plans to manage its effects on the department’s operating environment, missions, and facilities. Managing the national security effects of climate change will require DoD to work collaboratively, through a whole-of-government approach, with both traditional allies and new partners. Energy security for the department means having assured access to reliable supplies of energy and the ability to protect and deliver sufficient energy to meet operational needs. Energy efficiency can serve as a force multiplier, because it increases the range and endurance of forces in the field and can reduce the number of combat forces diverted to protect energy supply lines, which are vulnerable to both asymmetric and conventional attacks and disruptions. DoD must incorporate geostrategic and operational energy considerations into force planning, requirements development, and acquisition processes. To address these challenges, DoD will fully implement the statutory requirement for the energy efficiency Key Performance Parameter and fully burdened cost of fuel set forth in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act. The department will also investigate alternative concepts for improving operational energy use, including the creation of an innovation fund administered by the new Director of Operational Energy to enable components to compete for funding on projects that advance integrated energy solutions. The department is increasing its use of renewable energy supplies and reducing energy demand to improve operational effectiveness, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of U.S. climate change initiatives, and protect the department from energy price fluctuations. The military departments have invested in noncarbon power sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy at domestic installations and in vehicles powered by alternative fuels, including hybrid power, electricity, hydrogen, and compressed national gas. Solving military challenges— through such innovations as more efficient generators, better batteries, lighter materials and tactically deployed energy sources—has the potential to yield spin-off technologies that benefit the civilian community as well. DoD will partner with academia, other U.S. agencies and international partners to research, develop, test, and evaluate new sustainable energy technologies. Indeed, the following examples demonstrate the broad range of Service energy innovations. By 2016, the Air Force will be postured to cost-competitively acquire 50 percent of its domestic aviation fuel via an alternative fuel blend that is greener than conventional petroleum fuel. Further, Air Force testing and standard-setting in this arena paves the way for the much larger commercial aviation sector to follow. The Army is in the midst of a significant transformation of its fleet of 70,000 nontactical vehicles (NTVs), including the current deployment of more than 500 hybrids and the acquisition of 4,000 low-speed electric vehicles at domestic installations to help cut fossil fuel usage. The Army is also exploring ways to exploit the opportunities for renewable power generation to support operational needs: for instance, the Rucksack Enhanced Portable Power System (REPPS). The Navy commissioned the USS Makin Island, its first electric-drive surface combatant, and tested an F/A-18 engine on camelina-based biofuel in 2009 — two key steps toward the vision of deploying a “green” carrier strike group using biofuel and nuclear power by 2016. The Marine Corps has created an Expeditionary Energy Office to address operational energy risk, and its Energy Assessment Team has identified ways to achieve efficiencies in today’s highly energy-intensive operations in Afghanistan and Iraq in order to reduce logistics and related force protection requirements. To address energy security while simultaneously enhancing mission assurance at domestic facilities, the department is focusing on making them more resilient. U.S. forces at home and abroad rely on support from installations in the United States. DoD will conduct a coordinated energy assessment, prioritize critical assets and promote investments in energy efficiency to ensure that critical installations are adequately prepared for prolonged outages caused by natural disasters, accidents, or attacks. At the same time, the department will also take steps to balance energy production and transmission with the requirement to preserve the test and training ranges and the operating areas that are needed to maintain readiness.

full story here