Not-so-secret: CIA touts its green credentials

The New York Times has an online piece Monday morning about the Central Intelligence Agency’s energy conservation efforts.

They report:

In a statement issued on Friday — Earth Day, ‘natch — America’s spymasters declared that their habit of shredding and burning vast quantities of classified documents, known as “burn after reading,” was not only safeguarding secrets but also protecting the planet.

“Exhaust from the agency’s on-site incinerator generates steam to heat water at C.I.A. headquarters,” the statement said. “In addition to saving fuel, that process reduces the amount of waste — which would otherwise be destined for landfills — by nearly 1,000 tons per year.”

The agency also said it was increasing its recycling efforts, collecting more than three tons of plastic, glass, cardboard and other waste annually.

But another environment-related CIA program has come under political attack in the past: Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) is not a fan of the agency’s Center on Climate Change and National Security, alleging it saps the agency's focus on terrorism.