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US industry groups lobby armed service committees over biofuels

Several US industry groups have written a ‘call to arms’ to accelerate the production of American-made, advanced drop-in biofuels.

The Advanced Biofuels Association, the Algal Biomass Organisation, Airlines for America, the Biotechnology Industry Organisation and the National Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Defence Subcommittees, asking them to support the Department of Defence’s (DoD) pledge to use biofuels in military jets, ships and vehicles.

Below is some of the letter’s content:

‘Continued reliance on foreign oil puts US troops at risk of supply disruptions during military or humanitarian missions. Moreover, the oil market is unpredictable and the price per barrel often has dramatic fluctuations, which wreaks havoc on military budgets. In fiscal years 2011 and 2012, for instance, DoD came up $5.6 billion (€4.3 billion) short in its budget for military operations and maintenance because it spent more on fuel than anticipated.

‘Meanwhile, US advanced biofuel producers have made rapid progress toward cost-competitiveness. Per gallon cost of test quantities of advanced biofuels under Navy contracts has declined more than 90 percent over the past two years and will continue to decline as these technologies scale to commercial production. DoD’s efforts to reduce use of foreign oil and increase use of American biofuels can provide more certainty for military fuel purchasers and therefore reduce the Department’s massive operational cost overruns.’

The full letter can be viewed on the Advanced Biofuels Association website.





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