Principal Solar has announced the release of its White Paper, "Navigating by the Sun: U.S. Department of Defense Takes Aggressive Lead as Early Adopters of Solar Energy." Authored by Michael Gorton, chief executive officer and chairman of PSI, and Rebecca "Becky" Halstead, Brigadier General (retired), the paper explores the leadership role the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is playing as early adopters of solar energy technologies.

"Driven by climate change and the need for energy security, the DoD's solar energy plans are designed to strategically maximize effectiveness during military, disaster relief and humanitarian engagements," says Gorton.

"As initiatives unfold, the DoD is serving as a huge laboratory, laying the groundwork for widespread adoption of new ideas for optimizing efficiency and creating zero-energy environments in which users consume only as much energy as they generate."

Efficiencies gained from a greater reliance on solar energy have the potential to create energy independence, shrink risks for military personnel in the field, reduce the DoD's carbon footprint and drive clean energy innovation for the entire nation.

"As the DoD's large-scale mission unfolds, it will have a direct influence on national security and the health of the U.S. economy, with strategies shaped around overcoming the challenges of energy usage and strategic vulnerability," adds Halstead.