Because the nation’s reliance on foreign oil is a significant and well-recognized military vulnerability – U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus says the Navy is pursuing alternatives. A U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group was operating on advanced biofuel for two days to test the fuel’s performance in an operational setting. The demonstration took place off the coast of Hawaii as part of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise. Mabus observed operations – including fueling helicopters and jets from the deck of a nuclear-powered carrier, completing arrested landings of aircraft onto a carrier – the first ever using biofuels, refueling a destroyer while underway and air-to-air refueling. Mabus says the successful demonstration was a unique opportunity to witness the seamless integration of advanced biofuel and energy efficient technologies in some of the Navy’s most sophisticated air and sea platforms. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the historic significance of the Navy’s operation on biofuels should not be underestimated. According to Vilsack – we can, as a nation, change the fuel production and distribution paradigm in the world if we are consistent in our efforts to increase our production and use of domestic biofuels which are important to our energy and national security as well as create jobs.
Source: NAFB News Service