The Department of Defense is an enormous consumer of energy, using 73 million barrels of fuel annually. Airplane fuel is a huge part of that; it accounts for half the carbon footprint of the entire DoD. Yet the Department is also investing in some climate-friendly tech in the private sector.

Through the Defense Innovation Unit — a kind of Silicon Valley accelerator for commercial technology — the Air Force has a $131 million contract with electric aircraft company Joby Aviation. “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal tried out their minimalist-looking “air taxi” via a flight simulator.

This reporting is part of the latest season of Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast, “How We Survive.” This season is hosted by Ryssdal, a Navy veteran, and the series examines how the U.S. military is going to shape our climate future. 

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