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It is not a secret that the U.S. Department of Defense has started investing more time 鈥� and money 鈥� in pursuit of sustainability initiatives.

In April, the department set some of the most aggressive renewable energy goals in history: The Air Force, Army and Navy are now committed to deployment of three gigawatts of solar, wind, biomass and geothermal by 2025.

For clean technology companies around the country, that commitment to renewable energy could be a golden opportunity.

Bill Boyk, a Banks resident whose background includes military service and work in the solar industry, is one of many entrepreneurs hoping to capitalize on the Defense Department’s shift to clean energy. In 2008, he began developing a dual-axis solar tracking system designed for remote and off-grid installations.

Boyk, who served in the National Guard for six years, says solar power could save lives by reducing the number of fuel shipments needed in active military zones.

鈥淚n Afghanistan, fuel convoys become targets,鈥� Boyk said. 鈥淭he military is looking in all directions for ways to reduce the demand for those fuel deliveries.鈥�

His company, which is a regional semifinalist in the national Cleantech Open business competition, operates under the name of . The small startup is now seeking financial investment in its third patent-pending prototype, which uses a GPS system to rotate the panels in relation to the sun’s location in the sky. Boyk says the portable Ameristar system generates up to 40 percent more power than fixed panels.

Ameristar’s solar tracker also has a low center of gravity, which increases the system’s stability when it’s mounted on rough terrain. In addition, a simple racking system reduces installation time and ongoing maintenance needs. These qualities, according to Boyk, make the technology ideal for deployment on cargo containers, steep hillsides, ocean pontoons and other rugged landscapes.

鈥淵ou can take this solar equipment onto a site, set it up in an hour, and put a big dent in the need for gas and diesel,鈥� he said.

The Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, an association of mostly manufacturing and technology firms, in April hosted its first event to focus specifically on the growing clean tech sector.

鈥�(Clean energy) is one of the top priorities of the Department of Defense,鈥� said Sean Murphy, executive director of the coalition. 鈥淔inding more clean energy resources is a national security issue, so we need to try to connect these people.鈥�

Boyk attended the PNDC clean tech symposium, in Bremerton, Wash. There, he was encouraged by military officials who verified the demand for products like his solar tracking system. The Marines’ special forces, for example, may be interested in portable solar systems to generate power for telecommunications systems, Boyk said.

And if the Defense Department were to identify a need, major investment would likely follow. The department increased its investment in clean energy by a staggering 300 percent between 2006 and 2009, according to a 2011 report from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Not only did the amount of investment jump from $400 million to $1.2 billion in that three-year period, but the report also projected spending to surpass $10 billion annually by 2030.

Promises by the deep-pocketed Defense Department to invest in clean technology are positive signs for startups like Ameristar.

鈥淭here are a whole lot of companies doing this type of work out there,鈥� Murphy said. 鈥淪ometimes it comes down to timing (and) sometimes it’s knowing the right people, but there are a lot of opportunities out there right now.鈥�

Nevertheless, Boyk is continuing to look for opportunities in various markets for his fledgling company.

鈥淩ight now this has been solely financed by us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re still those struggling entrepreneurs with a great idea.鈥�