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Navy pact to aid in development of biofuels

The Department of the Navy is set to sign a deal with the Department of Agriculture that officials say will better enable both agencies to cooperate in developing alternative ways to power tomorrow’s fleet.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced the arrangement Wednesday at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium outside Washington. He said it was the latest step toward his goals for using more synthetic fuels and efficient systems in ships and aircraft.

Mabus, who will sign a “memorandum of understanding” with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack next week, said the deal was “an exciting opportunity for the Navy that would yield long-term benefits towards building a sustainable, cost effective energy infrastructure.”

Specifically, Navy scientists will be able to use the Department of Agriculture’s knowledge of corn, algae and other biofuels to help develop the alternatives the fleet needs if it is to meet Mabus’ goals. Although chemists already are producing synthetic fuels that can run in Navy diesels, gas turbines or jet engines with no modifications, they are very expensive. In September, the Navy paid $424 per gallon for a batch of algae-base biofuel, as compared with $1.40 per gallon for standard petroleum fuels.

Mabus announced his energy-usage objectives late last year, which include fielding a “great green fleet” that consists of only nuclear and alternative-powered warships, as well as getting more Navy and Marine Corps installations to use no external electricity.

Complete SNA coverage

• Read the Scoop Deck blog for coverage of the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium