trump says america needs coal for grid security. the military proves otherwise.

Over the past two years, President Trump has done everything he can to save America\'s struggling coal industry, open public land to mining, weaken pollution restrictions, and potentially eliminate protection for miners.
It\'s not working.
Utilities continue to shut down coal
Thermal power plants and mining companies continue to cut jobs.
The government is desperate to throw a lifeline to the coal industry, considering directly subsidizing coal in the name of national security. Coal-
They say thermal power plants are critical to the safety of the grid because they are uniquely able to withstand cyber attacks or natural disasters and continue to generate electricity on demand.
But, as experts have pointed out, there is nothing further than the truth.
As it happens, in the face of disasters, renewable energy from local sources, not coal, promises the most resilience.
That\'s why the military supports clean energy.
For national security.
A new report from the National Defense community and integration strategy Association details how military bases can switch to renewable energy to prevent power outages after floods, storms or cyber attacks. “The [
Ministry of Defense
As the United States faces increasing threats, these projects are being deployedS.
Grid, \"said Wilson Rickerson, head of convergence strategy and common strategy.
Author of the report.
The report details how rivals such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea have developed their ability to launch cyber attacks on key infrastructure
Russian hackers have proved capable of invading the grid.
In response, the base is developing a micro-grid to install wind turbines, solar panels, batteries and diesel generators to provide power in the event of a grid failure.
Rickerson noted that in many cases the base is working with local developers and power companies to develop renewable energy projects that serve not only the base but also the surrounding communities.
The report describes several examples of microgrids that make the base more resilient while providing clean power to nearby homes and businesses.
Navy building camp center in Gulfport, Mississippi, 29,000 square meters
Solar panels that power the grid.
The array is owned by a private company that is installing diesel generators and battery storage on site in exchange for the use of the land.
In the event of a power outage, generators, batteries and solar panels will power the base.
Marine Corps Miramar Air Station in San Diego, California offers solar cell arrays, battery storage, gas and diesel generators, and two generators that burn gas leaked from landfill sites.
The micro-grid is helping the Marines save electricity bills, and it can power the entire base for three weeks in the event of an emergency.
The Otis Air Force National Guard base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts has the military\'s first wind force-
Power micro-grid.
The installation includes a wind turbine, a diesel generator and battery storage, which can power the base for 120 hours in the event of a power outage.
Part of the project is funded by Massachusetts, which is developing renewable energy at military bases.
The report encourages more states and cities to work with military bases on such projects.
\"The partnership model highlighted in this report provides the impetus for military missions to scale up and benefit the surrounding communities and the economy,\" Rickerson said . \". Onsite clean-
Energy projects can create jobs and help limit pollution, the report says.
\"The Ministry of Defense has made energy resilience a priority and will be able to help communities and countries that achieve this goal be better equipped to retain missions and attract new ones, tim Ford, CEO of the defense community association, said.
\"It can also improve the resilience of the community, which is important when you have 70% of the military family life --base.
\"In many ways, the United StatesS.
The Army is a pioneer in the transition to clean energy.
The field forces have deployed solar energy and batteries to reduce their dependence on oil and gas, save money and help prevent attacks.
Fuel delivery is a common target for roadside bombs, and diesel generators can be a responsibility when trapped.
First-hand experience with clean energy has led many veterans to work in the industry after leaving their jobs.
Kevin Johnson, a veteran who is now running a federal solution, is the developer of the Department of Defense\'s flexible energy system, he said, when men and women work at a solar-powered base \"they see that just on the base, solar energy is viable and the military finds value from energy security and energy resilience.
\"The fact that so many veterans have been attracted to clean energy jobs is evident.
Instead of making the grid more vulnerable to disasters and attacks, wind, solar and battery storage makes the grid more resilient.
The military is helping to prove this.
Correction: The previous version of the article incorrectly pointed out that Kevin Johnson currently operates CleanCapital.
He left the company and now runs the GlidePath federal solution.
Jeremy Didon writes for Nexus Media, a joint news agency covering climate, energy, policy, art and culture.
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