Sunny Side Up: Characterizing the US Military's Approach to Solar Energy Policy

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract: Since 2007, the Department of Defense (DoD) has invested considerable resources and research into deploying solar panels to power its domestic military bases. This thesis seeks to apply theoretical models of policymaking to explain the enactment, implementation, and revision of the DoD‘s solar energy policy. In none of these stages can an idealized rational actor model account for the military‘s decision-making process; the panels purport to enhance energy security but do not do so, they are expensive, and they appear to strive for but fail to achieve federally mandated renewable electricity targets. Kingdon‘s multiple streams analysis best accounts for the timing of the DoD‘s decision to pursue solar, due to an open policy window in 2005. Furthermore, theories of ritualistic bureaucratic compliance in hierarchies explain the haphazard pattern of implementation. Finally, bounded rationality and incrementalism correctly predict the DoD‘s incomplete decision-making process when revising solar energy policy to include secure microgrid technology. These insights can and should inform DoD officials to critically analyze the motivations behind pursuing solar technology, consider nonrenewable microgrids to meet their stated goals of energy security, and lobby Congress to either allocate more funding for expensive renewable technology or relax its mandates in light of national security concerns.

Type of resource	text
Date created	2011-05-15

Location	https://purl.stanford.edu/qz062rv5267

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Preferred Citation: Sivaram, Varun. (2011). Sunny Side Up Characterizing the US Military's Approach to Solar Energy Policy. Stanford University, California. http://purl.stanford.edu/qz062rv5267

Stanford University, Center for International Security and Cooperation, Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies, Theses

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