Lieutenant Colonel Mark Towne gave a presentation on his paper this week titled “Energy Dependence: The $1.4 Trillion Addiction Threatening National Security.” Towne’s paper addresses America’s addiction to oil in terms of national security.

LTC Towne conducted a strategy research project on this topic because he sees the energy supply as a critical vulnerability to economic stability and the long-term security of the nation. He argues in his paper that the lack of an alternative to oil has had a $1.4 Trillion drag on the U.S. economy over the last five years. Demand for oil as a fuel source for ground transportation will cause the nation’s wealth to continue hemorrhaging for the foreseeable future, weakening America’s domestic and international power.

As a solution to this undeniable problem, LTC Towne suggests we institute bold policy and a comprehensive energy strategy. This must involve partnerships between the public and private sector to introduce technologies to the market that will decrease oil use and still meet consumers’ transportation requirements. LTC Towne argues increasingly for a portfolio of innovative vehicle and alternative fuel solutions, most notably the development and commercialization of hydrogen fuel programs.

Towne’s conclusion is that we need to implement a bill similar to the Consumer Vehicle Choice Act, only one that includes hydrogen and fuel cells as the benefactor. Ultimately, Towne calls for a  15-year, $55 billion long-term investment into fuel cell development and infrastructure. While this number may seem high, the cost of not turning away from oil will be much, much worse.

Towne’s paper can be found online here and his presentation is available here.

*disclaimer* LTC Towne’s paper is a strategy research project conducted to satisfy the degree requirements of the Army War College and do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, U.S. Army, Army War College.