Written by: 12/21/2011 4:39 PM
Efforts toward a “Green Fleet” have taken a significant step toward reality over the past few weeks. On December 5th, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) signed a contract to purchase 450,000 gallons of advanced drop-in biofuel, the single largest purchase of biofuel in government history. This is a big step for Mabus’ broader energy strategy plans to transform the Navy into an energy-efficient fleet.
In case you were wondering, the biofuel comes from a blend of non-food waste (used cooking oil) produced by Dynamic Fuels, LLC, and algae produced by Solazyme. The fuel will be used in the Navy's demonstration of a Green Strike Group in the summer of 2012 during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise.
As you probably noticed, energy-related research and innovation has become a focal point as of late as we strive to find ways to reduce the impact on our environment, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and reduce operation and acquisition costs. In addition, this serves as a great reminder that energy awareness and conservation is something we all should practice. But at what cost?
On the surface, and at nearly four times the price of traditional fuel, this biofuel won’t come cheap. As reported by the Danger Room’s Noah Shachtman, This new purchase will cost just as much: $26 per gallon. However, the plans are to mix the biofuel with equal amounts of fossil fuel to produce 900,000 gallons. Mixing will reduce the cost to about $15 per gallon. It is still expensive but according to Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Tom Hicks, who serves as Mabus’ point man on energy issues, it’s “roughly half of what was paid in 2009.”
Alternative sources of energy and energy conservation fit in to the Navy’s Energy Vision as well as the Naval S&T Strategic Plan. At first glance, I always assumed the end result was cost reduction. I was wrong. In fact, that is probably the lowest of the priorities…at least for now. With budgets crunched and a staggered economy, it is difficult to justify this purchase. But this is about more than saving money. It represents a commitment to change. The real payoff, especially in cost, will come down the line…won’t it?
0 comment(s) so far...
Sailors who have submitted a board package to the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY-13) Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Selection Board can confirm its receipt at Navy Personnel Command (NPC) by clicking on the "Selection Board Status" link on www.npc.navy.mil, officials said May 14.
USS Essex (LHD 2) is returning to San Diego May 17, after completing 12 years as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan.
Congolese navy sailors greeted the crew of High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) after they arrived in Pointe Noire to conduct a theater security cooperation (TSC) visit as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2012, May 15.
Sailors aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), embarked 7th Fleet staff and Marines assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific departed Jakarta, Indonesia May 15, after a four-day port visit strengthening bonds between the U.S. and Indonesian navies.
USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) received the fleet's highest recognition for superior operational performance and excellence in safety during an awards ceremony in the ship's hangar bay, May 16.
The Navy's 2011 Sailors of the Year (SOY) were meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer during a ceremony held at the Navy Memorial, May 17.
NAVADMIN 164/12, released May 18, announced the chief of naval operations' (CNO) approval of a number of changes to uniforms and uniform wear policy.
Navy implementation of DoD policy allowing Reservists to carry over leave earned during an active duty period to a later active duty period was announced in NAVADMIN 163/12, May 18.
Naval representatives from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and the United States gathered in the Ricardo Palma auditorium at the Peruvian naval base to officially recognize the beginning of UNITAS Pacific (PAC) at an opening ceremony in Callao, Peru, May 14.
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) is establishing a new command, the Coastal Riverine Force (CORIVFOR), a merger of Riverine Group 1 and the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF), June 1.
The Department of Defense will begin funding an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored project aimed at developing Web applications to help multinational navies police the world's oceans, officials announced May 14.
The Navy will commission the newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship San Diego during a 10 a.m. PDT ceremony Saturday, May 19, 2012, in San Diego, Calif.
Led by the University of Michigan, the NEEC is composed of the U.S. Navy, The American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and 15 institutions of higher education all of which are based in the U.S.A. The NEEC leverages this collection of partnerships to share knowledge and resources in addition to creating a consistent learning experience regardless of where you obtain your Naval Engineering education.
Fax: (734) 764-9649 Office Contact: rpmartin@GoNEEC.org Communications Contact: kbretziu@GoNEEC.org