Top Leaders Participate in Pentagon Energy Security Event
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS101014-14
10/14/2010
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Derrick M. Ingle, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy participated in DoD's first Pentagon Energy Security Event, Oct. 13. The U.S military's top leaders came together to discuss fuel and energy reform and jointly conveyed that environmental conservation is key component to the future of national security.
"Our military and our country rely too much on fossil fuels," said the Honorable Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). "For the military, that dependence has tremendous strategic and tactical implications. Strategically too much of our oils come from volatile places on earth. By continuing to buy from these places, we give them a pretty significant say on whether those ships will sail or whether those planes will fly. We have to stop looking at these places for our energy."
According to Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fossil fuels are the number one import into Afghanistan, with Soldiers using up 300,000 barrels of oil per day.
"Many of us are acutely aware of the cost and challenge – in terms of blood and treasure – of providing energy to our forces in Afghanistan today," said Mullen. "The recent NATO fuel convoys being attacked only serve to remind us of these vulnerabilities."
"It's dangerous," said Mabus. "A lot of these convoys are hit with IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices] or with ambushes, sometimes before they even get to Afghanistan. For every 24 convoys, we lose an American, killed or wounded. That is too high of a price to pay for energy."
With a 235 year history of initiative and excellence, the Navy and Marine Corps strives to lead the charge in DoD's alternative energy technology effort by surging the first 'green' strike group by 2016.
"Last spring we conducted a supersonic flight of an F/A-18 fighter, dubbed the 'Green Hornet', on a 50/50 blend of camelina based biofuel and gas," said Mabus. "A few days ago, we ran our Riverine Assault Craft on a similar blend derived from algae. In both instances, the engines didn't care what they burned"
"For the Navy and Marine Corps, we began on this path last year. I issued five energy targets for my department, the most important of which is that, by 2020, half of all energy we use will come from alternative sources," said Mabus
Naval chemical engineer John Bigus, was in attendance as a energy technology vendor showcasing the Navy's progress over the past year with alternative fuel resources for afloat and ashore commands.
"Today we're showing the breakthroughs we've made since 2009 in achieving SECNAV's goals of demonstrating a green strike group by 2012 and sailing it by 2016," said Bigus. "Our goal is to relieve the demand from petroleum through use of viable sources like algae, organic waste, or camelina. There are no specifics yet, but it has to be a smooth transition where neither the operator or engine are able to tell the difference in the fuels."
Similar to SECNAV's five energy goals, the U.S Air Force is also in alignment with three goals of demand reduction, increasing renewable and alternative sources, and ultimately transforming the culture.
"I'm proud of the work the men and women of Department of Defense are doing – the work many of you are leading-to ensure we turn energy security from a vulnerability to the strength it could be," Mullen said.
"This issue has captured the attention of everyone in DoD," said Mabus. "We're moving forward - different services – but one fight."
October is Energy Awareness Month. The Pentagon is hosting Energy Security Exhibits Oct. 12-15, with the theme of "Empowering Defense through Energy Security".
For more news from Navy Environment and Energy, visit www.navy.mil/local/nee/.
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