Senate gives green light to Pentagon green energy

The Senate has given the green light to the Pentagon’s investment in green energy.

By a vote of 62-37 on Wednesday, the Senate deleted a provision from the defense bill that would have prohibited the military from spending money on alternative fuels if the cost exceeded traditional fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil.

The amendment was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado.

In May, a sharply divided Senate Armed Services Committee had included the provision in its far-reaching bill that sets Pentagon policy. Republicans such as Sens. John McCain and Jim Inhofe had argued that clean energy sources such as biofuels were too expensive as the Pentagon deals with smaller budgets.

Eleven GOP senators from states such as Iowa and the Dakotas backed Udall’s effort.