Navy to buy biofuels regularly
December 11, 2013 | 06:50 PM
The Navy, which is in partnership with the Agriculture Department on a “Farm to Fleet” venture, will incorporate the acquisition of biofuel blends into regular Department of Defense domestic solicitations for jet engine and marine diesel fuels, using funds from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today.
The Navy will seek to purchase JP-5 and F-76 advanced drop-in biofuels blended from 10 to 50 percent with conventional fuels, USDA said in a news release.
“Funds from USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation will assist the effort,” the news release said, but it did not provide details of the arrangement or how much money would be involved.
Today’s announcement marks the first time alternative fuels such as advanced drop-in biofuels will be available for purchase through regular procurement practices, USDA said. It lowers barriers for alternative domestic fuel suppliers to do business with DOD.
Preliminary indications from the Defense Production Act Title III Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project are that drop-in biofuels will be available for less than $4 per gallon by 2016, making them competitive with traditional sources of fuel, USDA said.
The announcement came the same day the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent proposal to reduce the 2014 volumetric requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, co-chair of Growth Energy’s board of directors, testified that EPA’s policy is “misguided,” and other renewable fuel leaders and corn growers also criticized it.
The Navy will seek to purchase JP-5 and F-76 advanced drop-in biofuels blended from 10 to 50 percent with conventional fuels, USDA said in a news release.
“Funds from USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation will assist the effort,” the news release said, but it did not provide details of the arrangement or how much money would be involved.
Today’s announcement marks the first time alternative fuels such as advanced drop-in biofuels will be available for purchase through regular procurement practices, USDA said. It lowers barriers for alternative domestic fuel suppliers to do business with DOD.
Preliminary indications from the Defense Production Act Title III Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project are that drop-in biofuels will be available for less than $4 per gallon by 2016, making them competitive with traditional sources of fuel, USDA said.
The announcement came the same day the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent proposal to reduce the 2014 volumetric requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, co-chair of Growth Energy’s board of directors, testified that EPA’s policy is “misguided,” and other renewable fuel leaders and corn growers also criticized it.
