Obama's energy policy shift: more oil drilling; first biofuels supersonic test flight set for Earth Day
An F/A-18 Super Hornet from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 with green markings and the U.S. Department of the Navy Energy Security logo is in the hangar at Andrews Air Force Base. VX-23 will be testing the full envelope of the Super Hornet with a drop in replacement biofuel made from the camelina plant in an effort to certify alternative fuels for naval aviation use.
In Washington, President Obama highlighted a series of new measures for the US military in testing and adopting biofuels, in a major policy announcement conducted at Andrews Air Force Base where he showcased the F-18 Green Hornet that will be flown on a 50 percent camelina biofuels mix for the first time on April 22, 2010 (Earth Day) — the first supersonic biofuels flight.
The primary purpose of the announcements was an expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration, including new areas for development on the mid and south Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico (potentially commencing with Virginia, a move supported by both the state’s Democratic Senators), and development of leased areas off the North Slope of Alaska, while protecting Alaska’s Bristol Bay.
The president also ordered the doubling of the number of hybrid cars in the federal fleet, and highlighted $2.7 billion in investments in energy efficiency at the Pentagon. The speech was not noted for the extent to which new advanced biofuels were announced, but the extent to which biofuels were positioned with the Administration’s broad array of energy security and clean energy measures.
“Some of the press may be wondering why we are announcing offshore drilling at a hanger at Andrews Air force base. Well, if there’s any doubt about the leadership that our military is showing, you just need to look at this F-18 fighter and the light-armored vehicle behind me. The Army and Marine Corps have been testing this vehicle on a mixture of biofuels. And this Navy fighter jet — appropriately called the Green Hornet — will be flown for the first time in just a few days, on Earth Day. If tests go as planned, it will be the first plane ever to fly faster than the speed of sound on a fuel mix that is half biomass. The Air Force is also testing jet engines using biofuels and had the first successful biofuel-powered test flight just last week.”
“We need to make continued investments in clean coal technologies and advanced biofuels,” said Obama. “Now, the Pentagon isn’t seeking these alternative fuels just to protect our environment; they are pursuing these homegrown energy sources to protect our national security. Our military leaders recognize the security imperative of increasing the use of alternative fuels, decreasing energy use, and reducing our reliance on imported oil.
“That’s why the Navy, led by Secretary Mabus who is here today, has set a goal of using 50-percent alternative fuel in all planes, vehicles, and ships in the next ten years,” the President added. “And that’s why the Defense Department has invested $2.7 billion this year alone to improve energy efficiency.”
[To learn more about 17 US military biofuels projects/initiatives and more, see the Biofuels Digest special report "Send the Marines!, here]
Sustainable Oils CEO Tom Todaro was one of 10 VIP guests invited to attend President Obama’s event on energy security today at Andrews Air Force Base.
“President Obama made it clear that our overall national security is tied to how quickly we can develop domestic energy supplies,” said Todaro. “Sustainable Oils is committed to meeting that imperative by working with farmers across America to produce renewable, sustainable and domestic fuel that not only increases our national security, but also reduces emissions and creates jobs and economic opportunity.”
Camelina has been proven to reduce carbon emissions by more than 80 percent, and is is the most readily available renewable fuel feedstock that meets the military’s criteria, with the ability to scale up acreage to meet demand. The camelina for the test flights was primarily grown in 2009 and harvested in September 2009 by farmers in Montana. The company also has several field trials in Washington state. [Note, Biomass Advisors, the research arm of Biofuels Digest, last week released its comprehensive "Camelina Aviation Biofuels: Market Opportunity and renewable energy" report, here. ]
Although mainstream US media reported protests from the environmental lobby, reaction was mixed on the left.
Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council noted that “more offshore drilling in our oceans does not fit in that picture. Offshore drilling carries significant environmental risks without truly increasing our energy independence,” but welcomed the Administration’s new vehicle standards and doubling of the hybrid fleet, in a press statement.
Brendan Cummings, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity said: “Today’s announcement is unfortunately all too typical of what we have seen so far from President Obama — promises of change, a year of ‘deliberation,’ and ultimately, adoption of flawed and outdated Bush policies as his own.”
The Environmental Defense Fund noted that the Administration made its move “after hearing from key senators that it’s a necessary step to succeed in passing climate and energy legislation in the Senate.”
Bob Dinneen, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, said “Relying on 20th century energy sources to address 21st century challenges will not solve the problem. Oil and other fossil fuels are finite resources. While we cannot ignore their contributions, neither can we ignore the reality that reliance on them is simply unsustainable. Renewable fuels, such as ethanol produced from a variety of feedstocks, hold great promise to reduce our need for imported oil, address climate change concerns, and create enduring economic opportunity. The continued expansion of ethanol production along with the commercialization of new technologies will only improve on these benefits.”
Politico noted: “Credit Obama with pulling off a small political coup – one you could even call triangulation lite.The price he paid in political terms was relatively small: Angry blowback from environmental activists who still support his overall climate change policy. But the short-term benefits were large: By announcing the policy change, Obama defused a potentially potent Republican issue ahead of the summer gas spike and the fall midterms, while embracing major elements of the GOP’s “all of the above” energy approach to kick-start a stalled climate change bill. And the drilling decision also allows the president to distance himself from liberal environmentalists disdained by some pro-drilling, blue-collar voters.”
From the Baltimore Sun: “The only way to justify taking the environmental risks of drilling offshore would be if they were part of a deal that secured significant guaranteed environmental benefits – such as a comprehensive climate bill, and even then it might not be worth it.”
Ryan Black, Huffington Post: “Not to be overly critical of the efforts by the conservation community to prevent wanton environmental degradation, and while recognizing that many of us working at the intersection of energy and climate have different priorities, I must ask why some environmentalists are criticizing our forward-thinking president for his move to allow offshore oil drilling along the East Coast of the US.”
The Financial Times: “But is it going to be enough? One longtime industry observer put it this way: the administration is giving Republicans the doughnut hole, not the doughnut. Some of the most prospective areas are closer in along the Florida coast, and those will remain off limits. And offshore Alaska has been a place the industry has been counting on to grow supplies, with the assertion they can protect the environment while growing production.”
Barron’s: “Tacked onto the speech was an extensive pitch for green energy as a part of national security.”
Michael Brune, Sierra Club executive director: “Drilling our coasts will doing nothing to lower gas prices or create energy independence,” “It will only jeopardize beaches, marine life and coastal tourist economies, all so the oil industry can make a short-term profit.”
The Los Angeles Times: “The crowd at the 2008 Republican convention erupted in cheers of “drill, baby, drill!” when vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin urged a change in the nation’s energy policy…Somewhere out on the campaign trail, Democrat Barack Obama was listening. Today he did something about it. Reversing 20 years of federal policy, the Obama administration plans to open the spigots on offshore drilling along the East Coast and in parts of Alaska.”
President Obama’s complete policy statement is here.
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