U.S. military says 'green' means security

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. military forces are looking toward renewable energy as a way to not only save money but also lives, the secretary of the Army said.

U.S. Marines are aiming to cut fuel consumption by half by 2025 through the use of green strategies like trailer-mounted solar panels. The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, is examining wave-powered robots, CNN reports.

U.S. Secretary of the Army John McHugh was quoted as saying the military spends about $15 billion each year on fuel. Going green, he said, was good military strategy.

"This is the right thing to do for the environment, for the taxpayer and, most important, the right thing to do for our soldiers," he was quoted as saying.

The U.S. departments of Energy, Agriculture and Navy announced plans to invest up to $510 million in the next three years in partnerships with the private sector. The plan would advance the use of biofuels to power military and commercial transportation, the departments said.

Army statistics quoted by CNN indicated that more than 10 percent of the casualties reported in Iraq from 2003-07 were incurred during the protection of fuel convoys.