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SECNAV, CNO Speak at 2010 Navy Energy Forum

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101014-18
10/14/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shannon Burns, Defense Media Activity - Anacostia

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Participants in the 2010 Navy Energy Forum at the International Trade Center in Washington Oct. 12-13 focused on achieving energy security and reviewed the progress toward the energy targets set previously by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV).

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus' energy targets include requiring the acquisition process to consider lifecycle energy costs; demonstrating a "Green Strike Group" composed of nuclear vessels and ships powered by biofuels in 2012 and 2016; reducing petroleum use of the commercial vehicle fleet by 50 percent by 2015; and ensuring that 50 percent of the Navy's total energy consumption comes from alternative sources by 2020.

"I am excited about what we've done with biofuels, because I think this has the potential to make a big, long-term dent in our fossil fuel usage," said Mabus. "We conducted a supersonic flight of the Green Hornet in the spring on a 50-50 blend of camelina-based biofuel and JP-5. Biofuel testing has continued, and last week the first operational test of an algae-based biofuel was conducted on a Riverine Combat Boat (RCB-X) in Hampton Roads. In both cases, for the Green Hornet and the RCB-X, the engines didn't know the difference."

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead spoke about how improving energy security ultimately supports the Navy's overall goals.

"The Green Hornet and the path to a green fleet are not public relation gimmicks, but epitomize our new energy research, development, policy, and operations – that in and of themselves are the first stakes in the ground towards which we will work in the best interests of our Navy and nation," said Roughead. "It's more than simply how green can we be seen, it really is an operational issue for us."

Richard Kamin, the Navy's Fuels Leader, said the forum was a good way to show the progress that has been made toward SECNAVs energy goals.

"The forum is a great way to show how far the Navy has come in a year," said Kamin. "Last year at the initial forum the secretary gave us our five goals and our challenges, and I see at this year's forum how far we've marched towards those goals.

"Alternative fuels were just a dream for the Navy last year. Within the past year we have demonstrated these fuels on F18 Superhornets, on a green RHIB [rigid-hull inflatable boat] and we'll have a series of additional tests coming up in the next year leading up to the green carrier strike group."

Former Virginia Senator John Warner, international affairs expert and Chief Executive Officer of STRATFOR Dr. George Friedman, and Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates and Pulitzer Prize winner Dr. Daniel Yergin were among the guest speakers.