By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

The New York Times

October 4, 2010

With insurgents increasingly attacking the American fuel supply convoys that lumber across the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, the military is pushing aggressively to develop, test and deploy renewable energy to decrease its need to transport fossil fuels.

Last week, a Marine company from California arrived in the rugged outback of Helmand Province bearing novel equipment: portable solar panels that fold up into boxes; energy-conserving lights; solar tent shields that provide shade and electricity; solar chargers for computers and communications equipment.

The 150 Marines of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, will be the first to take renewable technology into a battle zone, where the new equipment will replace diesel and kerosene-based fuels that would ordinarily generate power to run their encampment.

Even as Congress has struggled unsuccessfully to pass an energy bill and many states have put renewable energy on hold because of the recession, the military this year has pushed rapidly forward. After a decade of waging wars in remote corners of the globe where fuel is not readily available, senior commanders have come to see overdependence on fossil fuel as a big liability, and renewable technologies — which have become more reliable and less expensive over the past few years — as providing a potential answer. These new types of renewable energy now account for only a small percentage of the power used by the armed forces, but military leaders plan to rapidly expand their use over the next decade.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the huge truck convoys that haul fuel to bases have been sitting ducks for enemy fighters — in the latest attack, oil tankers carrying fuel forNATO troops in Afghanistan were set on fire in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, early Monday. In Iraq and Afghanistan, one Army study found, for every 24 fuel convoys that set out, one soldier or civilian engaged in fuel transport was killed. In the past three months, six Marines have been wounded guarding fuel runs in Afghanistan.

“There are a lot of profound reasons for doing this, but for us at the core it’s practical,” said Ray Mabus, the Navy secretary and a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who has said he wants 50 percent of the power for the Navy and Marines to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. That figure includes energy for bases as well as fuel for cars and ships.

“Fossil fuel is the No. 1 thing we import to Afghanistan,” Mr. Mabus said, “and guarding that fuel is keeping the troops from doing what they were sent there to do, to fight or engage local people.”

He and other experts also said that greater reliance on renewable energy improved national security, because fossil fuels often came from unstable regions and scarce supplies were a potential source of international conflict.

Fossil fuel accounts for 30 to 80 percent of the load in convoys into Afghanistan, bringing costs as well as risk. While the military buys gas for just over $1 a gallon, getting that gallon to some forward operating bases costs $400.

“We had a couple of tenuous supply lines across Pakistan that are costing us a heck of a lot, and they’re very dangerous,” said Gen. James T. Conway, the commandant of the Marine Corps.

Col. Robert Charette Jr., director of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office, said he was “cautiously optimistic” that Company I’s equipment would prove reliable and durable enough for military use, and that other Marine companies would be adopting renewable technology in the coming months, although there would probably always be a need to import fuel for some purposes.

While setting national energy policy requires Congressional debates, military leaders can simply order the adoption of renewable energy. And the military has the buying power to create products and markets. That, in turn, may make renewable energy more practical and affordable for everyday uses, experts say.

Last year, the Navy introduced its first hybrid vessel, a Wasp class amphibious assault ship called the U.S.S. Makin Island, which at speeds under 10 knots runs on electricity rather than on fossil fuel, a shift resulting in greater efficiency that saved 900,000 gallons of fuel on its maiden voyage from Mississippi to San Diego, compared with a conventional ship its size, the Navy said.

The Air Force will have its entire fleet certified to fly on biofuels by 2011 and has already flown test flights using a 50-50 mix of plant-based biofuel and jet fuel; the Navy took its first delivery of fuel made from algae this summer. Biofuels can in theory be produced wherever the raw materials, like plants, are available, and could ultimately be made near battlefields.

Concerns about the military’s dependence on fossil fuels in far-flung battlefields began in 2006 in Iraq, where Richard Zilmer, then a major general and the top American commander in western Iraq, sent an urgent cable to Washington suggesting that renewable technology could prevent loss of life. That request catalyzed new research, but the pressure for immediate results magnified as the military shifted its focus to Afghanistan, a country with little available native fossil fuel and scarce electricity outside cities.

Fuel destined for American troops in landlocked Afghanistan is shipped to Karachi, Pakistan, where it is loaded on convoys of 50 to 70 vehicles for transport to central bases. Smaller convoys branch out to the forward lines. The Marines’ new goal is to make the more peripheral sites sustain themselves with the kind of renewable technology carried by Company I, since solar electricity can be generated right on the battlefield.

There are similar tactical advantages to using renewable fuel for planes and building hybrid ships. “Every time you cut a ship away from the need to visit an oiler — a fuel supply ship — you create an advantage,” said Mr. Mabus, noting that the Navy had pioneered previous energy transformations in the United States, from sail power to coal power in the 19th century, as well as from coal to oil and oil to nuclear power in the 20th century.

The cost calculation is also favorable. The renewable technology that will power Company I costs about $50,000 to $70,000; a single diesel generator costs several thousand dollars. But when it costs hundreds of dollars to get each gallon of traditional fuel to base camps in Afghanistan, the investment is quickly defrayed.

Because the military has moved into renewable energy so rapidly, much of the technology currently being used is commercially available or has been adapted for the battlefield from readily available civilian models.

This spring, the military invited commercial manufacturers to demonstrate products that might be useful on the battlefield. A small number were selected for further testing. The goal was to see, for example, if cooling systems could handle the 120 degree temperatures often seen in current war zones or if embedded solar panels would make tents more visible to enemy radar.

This summer, renewable technologies proved capable of powering computers, residences and most equipment for more than a week at a test base in the Mojave Desert — though not enough to operate the most sophisticated surveillance systems.

Much more is in the testing stages: one experimental cooling system uses a pipe burrowed into the cool earth eight feet underground that vents into tents; a solar fan on the tent roof evacuates the hot air and draws cool air from underground. The Marines are exploring solar-powered water purification systems and looking into the possibility of building a small-scale, truck-based biofuel plant that could transform local crops — like illegal poppies — into fuel.

“If the Navy comes knocking, they will build it,” Mr. Mabus said. “The price will come down and the infrastructure will be created.”

By Andrea Kelly

Arizona Daily Star

October 4, 2010

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Seniors with high drug costs will soon have more options to help them cope with Medicare’s prescription coverage gap.

Reversing a steady decline, the number of prescription plans covering at least some brand-name drugs in the “doughnut hole” coverage gap will triple next year, from 35 to 106. That’s according to an analysis of Medicare data to be released Wednesday by Avalere Health, a private research firm.

At least two plans covering some brand-name drugs in the gap will be available in every region of the country.
The enhanced coverage carries a higher monthly premium. And the plans offer only a limited range of medications in the gap, most often drugs to treat chronic illnesses.

Nonetheless, some seniors may be willing to pay more for greater peace of mind. Some of the most widely used medications, including Lipitor for high cholesterol, are not available as generics.

“The coverage of generics in the gap has been fairly stable, but there has been very little coverage of brand-name drugs,” said Bonnie Washington, an Avalere researcher who worked on the study. “This is the first year we have really seen it come back.”

The coverage expansion is partly the result of prodding by Medicare officials to get private insurers to offer more robust plans, Washington said.

Medicare’s drug coverage gap is a cost-control idea that has never been popular.

In 2011, the gap will start after Medicare beneficiaries and their insurance plan have spent $2,840 on medications.
After that, seniors are responsible for roughly the next $3,600. That’s the “doughnut hole.”

Once total spending reaches about $6,440, Medicare’s catastrophic coverage kicks in and beneficiaries pay only a small amount.

President Barack Obama’s new health care law closes the gap by 2020 through a series of discounts. Next year, seniors get 50 percent off brand-name drugs in the gap and a smaller break on generics.

But Medicare will continue to count the full retail price of medications in computing the coverage gap. So that means seniors will pay a lot less to get through the doughnut hole.

About 4 million people now face the gap largely on their own.

The Avalere study also found benefits will improve for low-income people whose premiums and co-payments are covered by taxpayers. For the first time since the drug benefit was offered in 2006, 9 million low-income beneficiaries will have a bigger number of plans to pick from. For those who want to stick with their current plan, coverage will be more stable.

Medicare’s open enrollment begins Nov. 15 and consumer advocates say the more than 17 million seniors enrolled in private prescription plans should take a particularly close look at their benefits for next year. Millions face double-digit premium hikes unless they shop for a cheaper plan.

Premiums will go up an average of 10 percent among the top plans that have signed up some 70 percent of seniors, according to an earlier Avalere analysis.

By Anthony L. Kimery

Homeland Security Today

September 27, 2010

At the height of border enforcement officials’ concerns earlier this year over the use of ultralight aircraft by Mexico’s transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) to transport narcotics across remote areas of the border into the US, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) introduced the Ultralight Smuggling Prevention Act. Last week, with “overwhelming bipartisan support,” the House passed the legislation which closes loopholes to crack down on the TCOs’ use of the small, gasoline-powered aircraft.

“Every year hundreds of ultralights laden with illegal narcotics are flown over our Southern border,” Giffords said last week on the House floor during debate on the bill. “Ultralights are the latest weapon in the ever-expanding arsenal of the narco-terrorists, capable not only of transporting drugs, but any number of dangerous payloads.”

“The use of ultralights by drug smugglers has become more common because of their ability to fly low to the ground and take off and land quickly,” Heller added. “However, due to a loophole in current law, drug smugglers who use ultralights receive a lesser penalty than those who use airplanes or cars. This legislation will provide law enforcement with the tools they need to prosecute drug smugglers to the fullest extent of the law.”

During Homeland Security Today’s month-long investigation on the border in June and July throughout Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, numerous Border Patrol and other Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials – as well as sheriffs of border-state counties – noted that the TCOs’ employment of ultralights to smuggle drugs had increased.

However, Mark Johnson, Director, Air Operations, Tucson Air Branch, CBP’s Office of Air and Marine, told Homeland Security Today that once CBP became aware of the uptick in flights of ultralights to transport drugs across the border, air operations in coordination with Border Patrol agents on the ground began to crack down on the flights.

“It isn’t any longer as big of a problem as it had been,” Johnson said at his Tucson office, noting, though, that the TCOs “will continue to innovate and use whatever methods of transportation they think they can get away with.”

Released earlier this year, the National Drug Intelligence Center’s (NDIC) 2010 National Drug Threat Assessment identified ultralights as one of newest ways that cartels are smuggling drugs into the United States.

Whether or not the TCOs’ use of ultralights to smuggle drugs across the border in the dead of night has been dampened by CBP’s aggressive response [CBP said the numbers of intercepted flights are down], Giffords’ legislation would provide tougher prosecutorial powers.

“This legislation will significantly increase the penalties for the use of ultralights to smuggle drugs,” the union said in a statement. “It will give law enforcement agencies an important weapon to crack down on the drug cartels’ newest method of smuggling drugs into our country. Security of the homeland requires laws that give us the authority to carry our mission and this bill addresses a serious gap in current law.”

Under the bill, individuals caught smuggling using ultralights can be prosecuted for using the aircraft in addition to being prosecuted for the drugs in their possession. When they are convicted of this new offense, they can receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This bill will establish the same penalties for smuggling drugs on ultralights as for those who smuggle using airplanes or automobiles.

“It is time for the federal government to get ahead of these new tactics and crack down on the use of ultralights to out-maneuver our law enforcement,” Giffords said. “The Ultralight Smuggling Prevention Act is a common-sense solution that will give our law enforcement agencies and prosecutors additional tools they need to combat drug smuggling.”

The Act (HR 5307), would amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to include “ultralight vehicle” under the aviation smuggling provisions. Ultralights are not categorized as aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), so they do not fall under this smuggling provision.

“This legislation will go after the newest method that the drug cartels use to smuggle drugs – ultralights,” Giffords explained, pointing out that “these single-pilot aircraft are capable of flying low and can land and take off quickly. We have reports of them flying up to 200 miles into our country from Mexico.”

According to CBP’s Air and Marine Operation Center in Riverside, Calif., 193 suspected incursions and 135 confirmed incursions by ultralights took place between Oct. 1, 2009 and April 15.

But by the end of July while Homeland Security Today was on the border, Johnson said “we’ve slowed down the [TCOs’] use” of ultralights with increased aerial enforcement specifically targeted ultralight flights.

According to the NDIC’s 2010 National Drug Threat Assessment, “Mexican DTOs rely on overland transportation methods to smuggle drugs into the United States, but also use alternative methods, including “some increased use of low-flying small or ultralight aircraft, which most often are used to smuggle marijuana.”

“For example,” the assessment stated, “in the Yuma, Arizona, area, at least eight ultralight aircraft have been spotted since October 2008, after only sporadic reporting of such incidents along the entire border area in previous years. Additionally, in mid-November 2009, at least three suspected ultralight incursions were reported in New Mexico – two in Luna County and one in Hidalgo County.”

The bill received the support of many in Arizona, including Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council, the Tucson chapter of the union that represents more than 17,000 Border Patrol Agents and support staff.

Sierra Vista Herald

September 25, 2010

To the Editor:

I first met Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords about 10 years ago when she had just been elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. She has always been energetic, fair, and she listens to our concerns. Most other politicians avoid tough issues, but not her.

One of my highest priorities is veterans’ issues. I follow Giffords’ work, and she is always there when we need her. Her veterans’ council is very active, and she acts on their recommendations. Among many other accomplishments, she supported our veterans by improving the GI Bill and increasing funds for Veterans Affairs hospital care.

Many of us depend on Social Security. Unlike her opponent, she does not want to privatize this program. She defends it and wants it to be there in the future. I find it sad that anyone would want to eliminate or privatize Social Security.

When important issues arise, our congresswoman listens to all sides. Frankly, I don’t know how she does so much with so much energy. One moment she is in D.C. fighting for Southern Arizona, and the next, she’s back home listening to us, hosting hearings and speaking at conferences

I moved to Arizona in 1947, and I traveled widely in the military before returning home to Arizona. I have seen a lot of good and bad politicians (both Republicans and Democrats) over the years. From my perspective, we are very fortunate to have Giffords on our side. She is of the highest caliber.

Please join me in supporting her for re-election to the U.S. Congress.

Bob Gent, lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force, retired,

Sierra Vista

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

TheHill.com

September 23, 2010

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base has a proud and distinguished record of training this nation’s fighter pilots and protecting our country’s air space for more than eight decades.

Soon, D-M will write a new chapter in American leadership by having the military’s largest solar-generating capacity.

The base will turn to the sun for one-third of its power needs, relying on what will be one of the nation’s biggest solar power plants – a 14.5-megawatt photovoltaic array slated for construction next year. That will give D-M the military’s largest photovoltaic plant, surpassing the 14.2-megawatt array built at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada three years ago.

D-M already is home to the largest solar neighborhood in the nation. Some 6 megawatts of solar generating capacity has been installed at the Soaring Heights community on the base, meeting about 75 percent of the peak power demand in the housing area.

In the past, an Air Force base would not normally have been considered a paragon of sustainable energy. After all, the Department of Defense is the world’s largest user of energy. Each day, the U.S. military consumes nearly 400,000 barrels of fuel, spending $20 billion annually to meet its needs.

However, military leaders across the country have come to recognize the dangerous implications of our dependence on fossil fuels. The security of our troops and of our nation’s electric grid can no longer depend on hostile regimes and harmful fuels. The military understands the benefits of strategic investment in clean, domestic sources of energy and is taking swift and serious action.

D-M’s ground-mounted solar array will be built by Maryland-based SunEdison and cover about 130 acres on the base’s northwest and north sides. Construction will begin next year and the solar equipment will be fully operational within 36 months.

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System also is leaping into the solar race in Southern Arizona – a move that promises to produce significant long-term savings for taxpayers.

The VA recently completed a 302-kilowatt, photovoltaic array that tracks the sun. More is on the way, with a 2.9-megawatt carport-mounted system – the largest of its kind in the United States – planned for the VA hospital.

When it comes to solar, Tucson and Southern Arizona get it. The past 12 to 18 months have seen a phenomenal jump in the number of solar panels installed here and the amount of energy that we are producing locally, from the sun, not from unsustainable, imported sources.

Solar energy is an economic powerhouse. Nationwide, the solar industry and its supply chain now support roughly 46,000 jobs in the United States. With growth expected to continue, that number is likely to surpass 60,000 by the end of 2010. The solar industry can contribute significantly to job growth and economic recovery in Arizona.

Solar is an economic driver in Southern Arizona, with manufacturers, installers, municipalities, universities, utilities and local, state, and federal governments all taking action to develop our solar industry.

Tucson Electric Power Co. has been a leader in this switch to solar, thanks to the leadership of Paul Bonavia, chairman, president and CEO of UniSource Energy, parent company of TEP.

In the first six months of 2010, nearly 1,100 homeowners installed residential solar systems with SunShare rebates from TEP. That is more residential solar systems than had been installed in the previous nine years in TEP’s service area.

The city of Tucson, designated a Solar America City, has 13 solar projects planned – projects that will generate about 1.3 megawatts of power. Pima County has several solar projects completed and several more in the planning stages – projects that will save taxpayers about $552,000 per year.

The University of Arizona has a diverse range of innovative solar research projects underway – projects designed to make solar even more affordable and more efficient. The Solar Zone at UA’s Science and Technology Park will generate 20 megawatts of power and is envisioned as the largest multi-technology site for solar technologies in the United States.

Nonprofit organizations also are finding that solar is right for them, allowing scarce funding to be spent on their missions instead of on utility bills.

In Tucson, the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross is the first Red Cross facility in the nation to be solar-powered. And the Community Food Bank is installing solar panels on a covered parking structure, saving the organization $10,000 per year – money that can be spent to help hungry Tucsonans.

Just up the road from Tucson is the granddaddy of all projects: Solana. Starting in 2013, this cutting-edge generating station near Gila Bend will light 70,000 Arizona homes with 280 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. This plant will be privately funded and operated in partnership with Arizona Public Service– but was made possible by a $1.45 billion federal loan guarantee.

It is widely accepted that we are at the beginning of a major expansion of solar energy use in Arizona, the United States and around the world.

The question is not if we will see increasing demand for solar power in the coming years, it is only whether Arizona will dominate this emerging industry or will settle for a small slice of the pie.

We have the talent, skills, and resources to lead all aspects of the solar industry – from research and development to product design, from manufacturing to installation, from the exporting of solar products to the exporting of clean solar power itself.

Our state can and must be at the very epicenter of this burgeoning industry.

Now is the time for us to focus our efforts and make Arizona the best place in the world for the solar industry to do business.