President Obama visited Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado yesterday to talk about investing in clean, American-made energy sources:
The less we depend on foreign oil, the more secure we become as a nation. That’s why in December, the Navy made the single largest purchase of biofuel in government history. This summer, that fuel will power ships and subs during the world’s largest naval exercise. By the way, two years ago, I got a chance to see a Navy F-18 Green Hornet that flies on biofuel. It was a pretty impressive sight. They wouldn’t let me fly it. But it was impressive to see.
The rest of the military—including here at Buckley—is doing its part as well. In 2010, you started installing thousands of solar panels here on the base. That same year, the Air Force flew an A-10 Thunderbolt entirely on alternative fuels, a first for the military. Overall, the Air Force is on track to save $500 million in fuel costs over the next five years because you guys have changed the way you operate. Think about that—half a billion dollars.
Reducing our dependence on oil is going to strengthen our national security. It will make our environment cleaner for our kids. It will make energy cheaper for our businesses and for our families. And doubling down on a clean energy industry will create lots of jobs in the process.
Read the President’s full remarks for more on why the Department of Defense is making a historic commitment to clean energy.
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