Beating Swords Into Solar Panels: Re-Purposing America's War Machine

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/19-5

That’s because it’s possible to “harvest” military-generated technology and repurpose it for this task. As the sequestration cuts begin to bite into the defense sector, some high-tech production facilities and the workforce that goes with them will need to find a new purpose. Taxpayers have invested billions of dollars over decades in developing inventive technology, building infrastructure, and training skilled workers to fulfill military contracts for the war economy. It’s time for the American public to start seeing all this harnessed to new purposes, first among them tackling our climate crisis.

As it happens, some savvy and forward-looking outfits in the military sector have already begun converting their know-how into green-tech manufacturing.

Take, for instance, Bath Iron Works, the largest employer in Maine. For several decades, the company has gotten most of its revenue from building and maintaining destroyers for the Navy. Now, however, it has joined an initiative to develop deep-water, offshore wind power, with the goal of making Maine the leading state in the nation in such technology and the production systems that go with it.

Oregon Iron Works has similarly built its expertise by fulfilling contracts for the U.S. military. Now, it’s diversifying into renewable energy, noting proudly that its “history of innovation in the marine industry gives [it] the ability to produce high-quality, cost effective Wave and Tidal energy devices.”

[Demeter]

1. Brilliant!

[truebluegreen]

2. Pentagon has identified climate change as the biggest threat to American security in the long run.

It would be nice if they decided to be pro-active instead of reactive on that front, wouldn't it?

[MisterP]

3. AND it'd get it onboard with infrastructural projects (like how the Interstate helps bring troops

from the bases to the Mexican border when the UN invades... or other uses)

[truebluegreen]

5. Not sure if I understand your reply.

I was agreeing with the OP that it would be good if the Pentagon/MIC used their talents to prevent climate change disruptions by preventing (more) climate change.

But I'm sure they would just rather design more weapon systems.

[MisterP]

6. ah, what I meant was that the Intracoastal Waterway, Interstate, and airports

were sold as military projects--dual-use, IOW
for instance, any high-speed rail in the US would have to sell itself to the Pentagon--military labor/expertise in the construction, cheap tickets from Pendleton and Lejeune and Ft. Hood and San Diego, what-have-you

[truebluegreen]

7. Ah, I get it now. Thanks.

It's not possible to spend too much on Defense...

[Arugula Latte]

4. Yes please.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Sometimes the military leads the way in regards to social progress as they did

in re: to racial integration which in and of itself increased national security as well.

Thanks for the thread, eridani.

[DirkGently]

9. Yes, yes. A thousand times "Yes."

We have built ourselves a war (and now, surveillance state) economy. These are upward-redistribution schemes. War, of course, has the added bonus of claiming the health and lives of the poor and working class.

Why NOT pour all that pork into something that would actually benefit everyone?

How about some jobs that don't involve killing, being killed, or spying on people?

How about we focus that "We're number 1" attitude on infrastructure and independence from fossil fuels?

A few years ago, there was a study that showed we have the capacity, right now, to build enough solar infrastructure to power the country. It would be expensive. It would take time.

But of course, at the end, instead of wounded soldiers and deficit spending, we'd have clean, inexhaustible energy.

It seems like the most obvious shift in emphasis in the world. And yet we're still not doing it. It's nice to hear some private outfits are trying on their own, but we could do so much more.

[Wilms]

10. ^