December
2, 2006: The U.S. Department of Defense is spending about $7.5 billion a year
on petroleum products, mainly in the form of fuel for vehicles, ships and
aircraft. The navy and air force account for 85 percent of that. Fuel costs
have gone up as the price of oil has risen (caused by increased demand from
China and India). The services are trying to reduce fuel consumption. These
efforts include greater use of simulators (for aircraft, ships and armored
vehicles), more efficient use of fuel and using renewable forms of energy
(windmills, solar panels and so on.) The higher fuel prices are having an
impact on armed forces worldwide. Whoever deals with this problem the most
effectively, will have gained an advantage.