NAVY Not Joking When It Comes to Push for Renewables
The NAVY isn’t a bunch of tree huggers, but they are deeply concerned about the safety of their troops and the economic and political costs of being dependent upon oil — this was the message from Thomas Hicks, a keynote speaker at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit in Expo who is leading the NAVY’s renewable energy efforts.
The NAVY has some aggressive energy goals, including running its entire fleet on a 50/50 blend of biofuels by 2020.
It costs $4 billion to $5 billion to power the NAVY fleet annually, said Hicks.
Recently, its biofuel program has run up against obstacles with Republican attacks in the House and Senate Armed Services Committee. Both committees passed amendments that bar the Dept. of Defense from purchasing biofuel that costs more than petroleum unless it is for testing purposes. The amendments, which would effect the FY2013 budget remain in committee.
