Navy, Energy and USDA Partner for Advanced Biofuels
The Obama Administration today announced a partnership between the private sector and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation.
President Obama made the announcement during a stop in Iowa, at the same time the three department secretaries held a telephone conference call with the press. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that they have developed a plan to jointly construct or retrofit several drop-in biofuel plants and refineries.
“America’s long-term national security depends upon a commercially viable domestic biofuels market that will benefit taxpayers while simultaneously giving Sailors and Marines tactical and strategic advantages,” said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. “Today’s announcement not only leverages our home grown fuel sources to support our national security, but it also helps advance the biofuels market, which ultimately brings down the cost of biofuels for everyone.”
“By building a national biofuels industry, we are creating construction jobs, refinery jobs and economic opportunity in rural communities throughout the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “As importantly, every gallon of biofuel consumed near where it is produced cuts transportation costs and, for the military, improves energy security.”
“These pioneer plants will demonstrate advanced technologies to produce infrastructure-compatible, drop-in renewable fuels from America’s abundant biomass resources,” said Energy Secretary Chu. “It will support development of a new, rural-focused industry that will replace imported crude oil with secure, renewable fuels made here in the U.S.”
The joint plan calls for the three Departments to invest a total of up to $510 million with at least a one to one match from private industry in an effort to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil and create jobs while positioning American companies and farmers to be global leaders in advanced biofuels production.
Listen to the entire press conference here: Navy, DOE, USDA Press Conference
5 Comments »
Navy75
I know of a very abundant fuel source here in the states that’s easier and cheaper to produce, all of the world runs on it so if in the field we run low of our fuel we can use their fuel that we’ve captured,,,,, its an amazing product called OIL!!!!! and we don’t have rely on a good harvest year, it doesn’t drive up the price of food in the poorest nations.
If you want to play with biofuels in the private sector thats fine but dont screw with the military,, all it would take is prolonged drought to stop our troops in their tracks then our enemies who still run on oil would walk all over us
Venturis
Fossil fuels are finite resources. When their gone there is no going back. The whole point behind this joint venture is to develope “DROP IN” biofuels. This means fuels that may be integrated SEAMLESSLY, as a replacement, a blend with petroleum fuels, or if the situation warrants no biofuels at all. “Drop In” fuels would be able to utilize existing distribution infrastructure as well as be useable in existing unmodified engines.
What this would mean for our armed forces would be a clean renewable source of fuel that would still be entirely replaceable in an emergency. A dependable, domestically produced and secured fuel.
I respect the service and sacrifices of the men and women of our armed forces.
Navy75
Fossil fuels might be a finite resource but that resource isn’t going to run out for hundreds of years and by that time, probably before that time, we would of found a cheaper way to extract hydrogen from water which is the true inexhaustible clean burning resource to replace oil as a fuel.
It doesn’t drive up the price of food so that poor nations starve, and also if oil does run out as you say, a prolonged drought wont stop us in out tracks.
Even if there is still oil around and we have switched our refineries to make bio-fuel we would still be up the creek without a paddle from a drought due to no resources to refine oil.
Soooo if you want to play with bio-fuels in between now and hydrogen do it in the private sector and not the military.
Venturis40
So lets star by addressing the issues that you chant while burying your head in the sand.
Prolonged drought or repeated poor harvests: this is an absolute non-issue. Biofuels, especially alcohol based bio fuels, can be literally made from anything. Grass, wood, crop residue, garbage, sewage, construction waste, bacteria, algae, and yes even oil and/or oil refining byproducts. This is just a few of the feed stocks available. As long as there are people on this earth there will be waste products that fuel can be made from.
Food versus fuel debate: this also is a non-issue. There are so many factors that increase the price of food world wide that have a greater effect than corn based ethanol or soy based biodiesel. The number one factor is greed. The profits posted for just the nestle corporation last year were enough to buy the entire 2010 US corn crop. This is just the profits for one manufacturer and does not include the profits from distribution and sales of these products. The second biggest factor on the price of food is …… Wait for it …… OIL!!! Oil for transporting ag products. Oil for processing ag products. Oil for defending…… OIL!!!!!
The US consumes about a third of the worlds oil. At some point in time we have to spit out mommas oily nipple and find a viable alternative.
Right now solar, wind, and biofuel are the only affordable option.
Everyone needs to be on board for the greatest effect, including the military.
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[...] why initiatives like the one announced this week by the U.S. Departments of the Navy, Energy and Agriculture to develop more aviation and marine [...]
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