U.S. Army appoints Energy Council

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army announced the establishment of a Senior Energy Council.

The council will serve as a board of directors that will focus on Army energy policy, programs and funding. The council also will lead on five major energy projects.

The move is part of the U.S. Army's goal to promote energy efficiency and conservation.

The council will be co-chaired by Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment Keith Eastin and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli. They will report to the secretary of the army with a report card on the status of Army energy initiatives.

The Army spends more than $3 billion per year on energy, and the new leadership is aimed at helping to cut that cost.

Some of the Army's current projects include a 500-megawatt solar thermal plant at Fort Irwin, Calif., in the Mojave Desert, the purchase of 4,000 small Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, biomass-to-fuel demonstrations and a pilot energy savings performance contract.