08/16/2011
by Gary Truitt
In a rare example of intergovernmental unity, the USDA, the Energy Department and the US Navy have joined forces to fund the establishment of next generation biofuels plants around the country. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the three agencies will invest up to $510 million during the next three years in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation. "We have developed a plan to jointly construct or retrofit several drop-in biofuel plants and refineries. This effort will help address energy security and national security challenges and will provide economic opportunities in rural America," Vilsack told a press briefing on Tuesday. Vilsack said the new sources of biomass will not compete with crops for food use; but details on what crops will be used, and where the plants will be located were not revealed.
The purpose of these plants will be to produce biofuels for the US Navy, "America’s long-term national security depends upon a commercially viable, domestic, biofuels market that will benefit taxpayers while simultaneously giving Sailors and Marines tactical and strategic advantages," said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. "Today’s announcement not only leverages our homegrown fuel sources to support our national security, but it also helps advance the biofuels market, which ultimately brings down the cost of biofuels for everyone." Mabus said he has set a goal of having 50% of the Navy's fuel come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2020.
The joint plan calls for the three Departments to invest a total of up to $510 million, which will require a substantial cost share from private industry of at least a one-to-one match. The partnership aims to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil and create jobs, while positioning American companies and farmers to be global leaders in advanced biofuels production. The United States spends more than $300 billion on imported crude oil per year. Producing a domestic source of energy provides a more secure alternative to imported oil and improves both energy and national security.
Energy Secretary Stephen Chu said the government will partner with private industry on the construction of these bio-refineries which will eventually produce fuel for the general public, "These pioneer plants will demonstrate advanced technologies to produce infrastructure-compatible, drop-in renewable fuels from America’s abundant biomass resources. It will support development of a new, rural-focused industry that will replace imported crude oil with secure, renewable fuels made here in the U.S."
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