Republicans Order Navy to Quit Buying Biofuels

[Eugene]

Source: Wired

Republicans Order Navy to Quit Buying Biofuels

By Noah Shachtman
May 14, 2012 | 1:58 pm

On Monday, the U.S. Navy will officially announce the ships for its demonstration of the “Great Green Fleet” — an entire aircraft carrier strike group powered by biofuels and other eco-friendly energy sources. If a powerful congressional panel has its way, it could be the last time the Navy ever uses biofuels to run its ships and jets.

In its report on next year’s Pentagon budget, the House Armed Services Committee banned the Defense Department from making or buying an alternative fuel that costs more than a “traditional fossil fuel.” It’s a standard that may be almost impossible to meet, energy experts believe; there’s almost no way the tiny, experimental biofuel industry can hope to compete on price with the massive, century-old fossil fuels business.

Committee Republicans, like Rep. Randy Forbes, insist this isn’t an attempt to kill off military biofuels before they have a chance to start. “Now, look, I love green energy,” he said in February. “It’s a matter of priorities.”

But if the measure becomes law, it would make it all-but-inconceivable for the Pentagon to buy the renewable fuels. It would likely scuttle one of the top priorities of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. And it might very well suffocate the gasping biofuel industry, which was looking to the Pentagon to help it survive.

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Read more: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/republican-navy-biofuel/

[pscot]

1. That'll bring the War Department to its knees

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Don't worry. Some other, more forward thinking nation will race ahead of us in this area too.

*sigh*

[Kolesar]

3. Chickenhawk Randy Forbes never served our country

...but the captains and admirals vote for him.
http://forbes.house.gov/Biography/

[kristopher]

4. The Republicans can't unilaterally stop tell the Navy what to do.

If the prohibition isn't written into law, it is a matter for the Commander in Chief. I think it is unlikely they can get this into a bill that makes it through the Senate.

[FogerRox]

5. Having an alternative to oil based fuels is good policy, for the DOD

Nut jobs.

[NickB79]

6. Exactly. Cost savings are secondary here

The primary purpose of this test run was to find a way to make sure our military could still carry out it's mission if the US military were deprived of sufficient fossil fuel supplies at some point in the future.

This could actually HARM our country's military readiness, and it's coming from the party that prides itself on "supporting the troops". WTF?

[FogerRox]

7. IIRC the Air Force has been developing the coal to liquid fuels thing

They started running a B-52 with one engine on bio jet fuel, to start. Over a number of test runs they ended up running 100% bio jet fuel.

This is good basic R & D, not that I like liquid fuels from coal... no sir. IMHO as an R & D effort it stands on its own.

YES, Exactly WTF is wrong with those narrow minded asshats?