But the programs to install renewables on fixed military bases is one of the dumbest wastes of taxpayer money there is out there. Solar PV is nowhere near competitive energy if there is an existing grid. Land-based wind puts out its power primarily between midnight and 0600hours. Radars and other early warning and defensive systems need reliable, dispatchable power neither of which is provided by wind and solar.

And, the deals where the military is executing a purchase power agreement with private developers who build and own the facilities on government land has a bad smell to it. There are PPAs executed for electricity rates that are not publicized from plants for whom the owner gets production tax credits and/or a federal cash grant to build. All of this is financed by the taxpayer. And, the power facilities need full, 100% backup from a nuclear or fossil facility due to their variability, intermittency, unreliability, nondispatchability, and p!$$poor capacity factor.

It would be far better for the military to build combined heat and power units. A natural gas engine installation costs about 60% the cost of a wind turbine and 30% the cost of solar PV. The efficiency of these engines is in the 40 to 43% range. Add combined cycle and they get in the 50% range. Add heat recovery utilizing the normally wasted exhaust and jacket water for heating and cooling and the efficiency approaches 85%.