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As a step towards that goal, Secretary Mabus introduced a “Great Green Fleet” — five ships that run on a 50/50 blend of conventional fuel and alternative biofuel (as it does not require engine modifications). Since the biofuel runs on algae, chicken fat and seeds, there’s hope that the biofuel will also help with that classic reliance-on-foreign-oil conundrum.
There’s just one problem: The biofuel currently costs over seven times more per gallon than conventional fuel ($26 a gallon compared to $3.60 a gallon).
Does this biofuel make me look green?
As this green fleet includes a destroyer, tanker and an aircraft carrier, these aren’t exactly small hybrid vehicles daintily sipping on that fuel either. As mentioned in a previous blog, it seems as though you can run a vehicle on just about anything; it’s simply a matter of whether it’s economical on a large scale. At $26 a gallon, clearly this biofuel isn’t economical, at least not yet.
However, In the 1980s, there was a scandal over the Navy buying $640 toilet seats. On closer analysis, it was revealed that the high cost largely came from retrofitting the parts on a small number of out-of-production P-3C Orion fleet ships. As the molds and equipment needed to be recreated for a relatively small number of installs, the costs naturally went up.
In the same way, this $26 a gallon cost comes from providing only one day’s worth of biofuel. Secretary Mabus hopes that as the Pentagon supports and expands the biofuel use, the cost per gallon will go down.
In the mean time, Republicans (including Rep. Randy Forbes and war veteran Sen. John McCain) believe that biofuels will always cost more, that President Obama’s alternative energy initiatives are too costly for mainstream use/taxpayer funds, and that it’s wrong for the military to help build green technologies in this manner.
What no one has (publicly) stated is the obvious: The Navy, like any military branch, is tasked to defend its country and, in the event of war, use the means necessary to ensure victory. War is a cold, brutal affair, and if there’s one thing the current U.S. deficit has taught us, it’s costly, too. If and when there’s a greater need for warships, the ideal options — especially easily dismissed, expensive luxury options — will fall away or fall in line with the grueling requirements of war.
Finally, on the off-chance the biofuel does stick around during wartime, no one is going to feel good about being Earth conscious while people are killing each other.
