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?
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