The US military has finally addressed energy risks in its planning, as explained by Federal News Radio

The Pentagon sent its first-ever operational energy strategy to Congress Tuesday, laying out the military’s intent to begin treating energy as a critical military capability.

The goal is to stop focusing on energy as merely a market commodity that must be purchased in order to sustain the department’s various missions.

Defense leaders think that change in thought processes could ultimately reduce the military’s demand for petroleum and promote the development of energy alternatives, with the Pentagon as a new leader in the market.

This marks a huge shift in American policy from the Bush Administration; the government’s investment in the current wars could soon spur much faster innovation in energy efficiency and reduced civilian dependency on oil.