USAF eyes alternative fuel

**Ironduke** · 10-29-2007, 15:31 PM

Interesting... I'm all for weaning ourselves off of overseas oil (to our Canadian friends: oil that has to cross an ocean), but hopefully this won't mean an expensive overhaul or sacrifice of performance to satisfy a political agenda.

Quote:

U.S. Air Force eyes alternative fuel
By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The world's most powerful air force is seeking to wean itself from foreign oil and nearly zero out its carbon dioxide output as part of a sweeping alternative energy drive, a senior Pentagon official said on Friday.

By early 2011, the U.S. Air Force aims to make sure its entire fleet of bombers, fighters, transports and other aircraft can use a domestically produced 50-50 blend of synthetic and petroleum-based fuel.

William Anderson, an assistant Air Force secretary, said the goal was to reduce energy demand, look for cleaner power sources and to reuse captured carbon commercially, for instance to enhance the growth of biofuels or improve oil well production.

"We can get ourselves very close to a zero carbon footprint," said Anderson ahead of talks on the issue with counterparts in Britain and France next month.

"Not today. Not tomorrow. But maybe a decade or so down the road," he told a briefing at the State Department's Foreign Press Center.

Anderson said the Air Force's economic clout as a purchaser could help promote sources of power that do not add to emissions of greenhouse gases. Such gases trap heat in the atmosphere.

The largest U.S. solar-electric power array of 14.2 megawatts is to open in December at Nellis Air force Base in Las Vegas, and Anderson said Congress had asked the service to consider if its bases are appropriate sites for small nuclear facilities.

Anderson said the effort on synthetic jet fuel had been spurred by the 2006 challenge to the nation from President Bush to wean itself from its "addiction" to imported oil. Oil supplies are diminishing, Anderson said.

Source: U.S. Air Force eyes alternative fuel | Environment | Reuters

wkllaw · 10-29-2007, 15:38 PM

Getting yourself off your addiction to something that's in the hands of unstable and possibly hostile foreign countries is something that should be a top priority and the first sector that should be weaned from the addiction is the military.

Jimmy · 10-30-2007, 16:34 PM

Especially the Air Force. I dont know what the source was, but somebody was telling me the USAF makes up like 3/4 of the US's regular fuel consumption.

HistoricalDavid · 10-30-2007, 17:44 PM

6,000 aircraft plus miscellaneous ground vehicles consume three times as much as the 200 million cars and god knows how many civilian aircraft in the United States?

VarSity · 10-30-2007, 17:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy

somebody was telling me the USAF makes up like 3/4 of the US's regular fuel consumption.

3/4 of the fuel used by all US armed forces maybe?

HistoricalDavid · 10-30-2007, 18:02 PM

Even then that's unlikely; how many hours do aircraft fly versus ships sailing, for example, not to mention the thousands of Abrams and other armoured vehicles of the other services?

Taihang · 10-30-2007, 19:31 PM

Wouldn't it be more environmental friendly if they cut 1/3 of their operations?

HistoricalDavid · 10-30-2007, 19:40 PM

^^^^ Teh win.

10-29-2007, 15:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
wkllaw Contributor Join Date: 03-07-07 Location: New York City or Hainan, China Posts: 579 Country:	Getting yourself off your addiction to something that's in the hands of unstable and possibly hostile foreign countries is something that should be a top priority and the first sector that should be weaned from the addiction is the military. __________________ Those who can't change become extinct.

10-30-2007, 17:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
HistoricalDavid Distant Deeps or Skies *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 07-19-05 Location: North London, UK Posts: 2,007 Country:	6,000 aircraft plus miscellaneous ground vehicles consume three times as much as the 200 million cars and god knows how many civilian aircraft in the United States? __________________ HD Ready?

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10-30-2007, 16:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jimmy *Military Professional* Join Date: 11-16-05 Posts: 929 Country:	Especially the Air Force. I dont know what the source was, but somebody was telling me the USAF makes up like 3/4 of the US's regular fuel consumption.

10-30-2007, 18:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
HistoricalDavid Distant Deeps or Skies *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 07-19-05 Location: North London, UK Posts: 2,007 Country:	Even then that's unlikely; how many hours do aircraft fly versus ships sailing, for example, not to mention the thousands of Abrams and other armoured vehicles of the other services?

10-30-2007, 19:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Taihang Regular Join Date: 09-24-06 Posts: 39	Wouldn't it be more environmental friendly if they cut 1/3 of their operations?

10-30-2007, 19:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
HistoricalDavid Distant Deeps or Skies *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 07-19-05 Location: North London, UK Posts: 2,007 Country:	^^^^ Teh win.

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