Enlightened Power: New Eco Warriors Are Really Well Armed

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on May 14, 2013 in the Atlantic Ocean. Photographer: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter/U.S. Navy via Getty Images
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Windmill-hugging Europeans announced a plan last week to get 27 percent of their energy from renewables by 2030. If they don’t watch out, they may soon be upstaged by an unlikely eco warrior: the U.S. military.

U.S. armed forces have a target that’s similar to Europe’s -- 25 percent renewables -- but is on track to meet it five years sooner. Europe’s plan took a lot of heat last week for being unenforceable. By contrast, U.S. military goals aren’t just aspirational; they’re law. This comparison isn’t to poke another finger at the EU proposal. Instead, it shows just how ambitious the U.S. military’s quest for renewables has become.