The impact of using mobile solar systems by the military could be enormous: “A single soldier in Afghanistan uses 22 gallons of fuel a day, and delivering each gallon to the war zone costs between $300 and $400, according to estimates released last year.”

And: “…Amory B. Lovins, chairman and chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute, in Colorado, calculated that a typical Marine Corps combat brigade needs more than a half-million gallons of fuel per day, and much of it is for generators. A single typical 60-kilowatt generator burns 4 to 5 gallons per hour, or $700,000 per year based on an estimated fuel cost of $17.44 per gallon in Afghanistan. Fueling one base’s generators might cost more than $34 million per year.”

Wired reports here on a Marine unit stationed in Afghanistan that’s reporting 90% savings in diesel fuel.

The Army has acquired Pure Power Mobile Solar Microgrid and finds it rugged and powerful, providing up to 12 times the power output of the 300 watt systems identified in these articles..

Not surprisingly, Santa Monica and Los Angeles have a lot of big brains working on sustainable business solutions, as do San Francisco and – with reportedly over 800 green companies – San Diego.

The 48 did great work this season, providing all base camp power for up to 10 hours on this big show. The 48 has also provide base camp power on Inception and the upcoming Steve Carell comedy release Crazy, Stupid, Love

We could tell you, or you could read the quote from the show’s transportation coordinator:

“The production of The Mentalist works hard to be energy efficient and sustainable in creating our show. During the 2010-2011 season, to save fuel and reduce our carbon footprint, we powered our base camp with the world’s largest Mobile Solar Power System whenever we were out on location. It has been exciting for the entire cast and crew to be leaders in this effort and to do our part for the environment.”
- Mike Padovich, Transportation Coordinator, The Mentalist

Stay tuned for more feedback from the Mentalist and some cool events we’ve done this Spring.

…But note that Mobile Solar and Portable Solar are used almost interchangeably. In our world, there’s a BIG difference – Mobile Solar, such as provide by Pure Power and others, denotes commercial-grade or military-grade solar equipment that is capable of providing electricity for:

• power tools on construction sites
• project management trailers, including air conditioning
• wardrobe, talent trailers, and catering – up to entire “base camps”
• A/V systems for stages and bandstands
• powering electric vehicles
• powering schools or homes in remote villages
• chilling of medicines for emergency first response or field hospitals.

“Portable solar” generally refers to solar backpacks and small units that can be carried by one person and can power a laptop, cell phone or MP3 player.

SAVE MONEY

A construction company that rents a portable diesel generator, for example, might might budget the rental rate as its cost. “The actual cost of a fossil fuel system is much higher. With solar, the contractor can eliminate fuel cost, fuel delivery, refueling time, engine tune-ups, even remediation costs when fuel is spilled. “That money can be used to preserve or create jobs, or make a project profitable” says Smith, “Solar generators can also produce valuable LEED points, and reduce the need for noise permits.”

SAVE LIVES

With the military, using renewables is quickly becoming a no-brainer. An Oct 4, 2010 article in the NY Times mentioned that 1 US soldier is killed for every 24 convoys delivering supplies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that diesel fuel accounted for between 30% to 80% of the loads. By reducing the amount of fuel delivered, lives are saved. And, at that time (before fuel prices spiked 30%), it is estimated that it actually cost about $400 per gallon to deliver fuel to the front.

SAVE THE PLANET, SAVE CHILDREN

Using mobile solar instead of diesel has positive impacts on communities. “When a feature film goes on location, each big diesel generator is creating about a ton of carbon dioxide each day,” Smith says, using figures from the EPA, “But that exhaust also contains 40 cancer causing compounds and soot particles to carry them – a very localized impact for families, neighborhoods, and schools.”

(SAVE MORE MONEY)

What’s the upside for a feature film to choose solar? “With diesel costing about $5.50 or more per gallon delivered to a film location – our biggest solar generator saves over $500 a day in fuel costs.”

SAVE AMERICAN JOBS

“Besides, our mobile solar generators are designed and built in California, developing new technology and jobs. Governor Schwarzenegger got it, Governor Brown gets it, and President Obama is profoundly aware of the local benefits of solar. It’s clearly time to make changes in the way we do things.”

For Christopher Smith, of Pure Power Distribution (www.PurePowerD.com), the “Triple Bottom Line” is a foundation of the company, so these results are quite obvious.

Read the press release here.

Goes without saying that large scale power grids are often taken out immediately, and that emergency power must be portable, rugged, and if truly capable, must be completely self-sufficient. Now, a diesel generator may fit the bill on the first two requirements, but when the fuel runs out, and more can’t be procured, it becomes just another derelict vehicle.

When emergency first-responders or even military units are called out to assist with massive disasters, mobile solar generators can become a primary tool providing renewable electricity that is stored in onboard batteries and available well into the night.

A Mobile Solar Power System, on the other hand, will be replenished by the sun each day, and if used properly, can be utilized for days or weeks at a time. (Warning: sales pitch coming:) Pure Power has such Systems available, and inquiries for such emergency power should be directed to info@PurePowerD.com.

Under current law in California and most other states, companies can be sued by their shareholders or investors for taking environmental or social measures that negatively affect shareholders’ financial returns. The proposed bill would enable a new form of for-profit corporation, encouraging and expressly permitting companies to pursue other things besides simply making money.”

A triple bottom line company such as Pure Power Distribution stands to benefit from this decision, as we continue to grow, and design and deploy new Mobile Solar Power Systems, Mobile Solar Microgrids, and new models and versions implementing new battery technologies, new PV technologies, and many other innovations we have on the drawing board. Our mission has always been to provide opportunities for investors and partners to create three legs of benefit – Financial, Social, and Environmental. We call it “Financing Community Sustainability”

DiCaprio mentioned using solar power on Inception in an article in the Philippine Times, which was captured by Ecorazzi, Huffington Post, the Sierra Club and Forbes.

What’s really amazing about the coverage is that, on DiCaprio’s Facebook Page, over 1,700 people read his piece and ‘liked’ it, and over 300 people commented. Heads up, entertainment industry – this is direct response to your positive actions!