As someone who grew up in a military family, (grandpa, dad, sister, brother, other brother) and then joining the service myself five years ago, I have a great appreciation for national security. And energy independence plays a crucial role in national security.
With all the hype over labeling and origins in our food lately, I would like to promote the same idea for our energy sources. Let’s look at where we are getting energy to meet our country’s needs. Are you listening, legislators?
Let’s take a hand vote, who wants energy from Minnesota farmers? After all, you’ll know exactly where it’s coming from, what’s put into it, you watch it grow every day and see the benefits it has on your local community. Then you see that energy shipped over to the other side of town to the ethanol plant (more economic benefits).
More importantly, each time you fuel up your car, you know where that ethanol came from and where your dollars are going. That’s right, the ethanol that makes up E10, E15 and E85 is 100 percent homegrown, supports jobs and keeps dollars in our own economy.
We need to break our addiction to foreign oil with homegrown renewable energy produced right here right now. And let’s face it, it’s a transparent system compared to the uncertainty and suspicious nature of crude oil prices that can be dictated by a pipeline explosion in Nigeria.
Moreover, we will no longer be held hostage to foreign interests out of our necessity for energy. Homegrown ingenuity and innovation have brought renewables to the forefront of the fight for energy independence. Three cheers for America!
The military believes so strongly in curbing our reliance upon foreign oil that they have dedicated themselves to being the front movers in the energy independence movement. The military is the largest oil-using organization in the world. But it has to often transport oil to and from very dangerous places. It may surprise you but one in 24 fuel convoys end with a casualty.
The Truman National Security Project and the Center for National Policy have joined together to create Operation Free, a coalition that promotes and fights to secure America with clean energy. It should be obvious that depending on a single source of energy can never end well.
As such, the military promotes a diversified energy portfolio. Since the enactment of the Renewable Fuel Standard, biofuels have helped reduced our dependence on foreign oil by more than half — from 60 percent to 27 percent. We have created nearly 400,000 jobs. Homegrown American fuels produced by hardworking Americans. Now that’s an idea we can get on board with.
Apart from energy security, biofuels greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the Pentagon reported earlier this year, climate change is a serious threat to national security. So, really, do we need more reasons to support biofuels?
By Mackenzie Zimmerman
