US Navy to Cut Greenhouse Emissions 50% By As Early As 2015 (!)
After the new Executive Order last week requiring every Federal Agency to accurately account for their greenhouse gas emissions—and then sharply reduce them 30% by 2020 [previous story]—the Navy has doubled down in their response.
Already the Navy uses 17% renewable energy (about like Iowa and even better than California), but they plan on achieving a faster reduction and a much tougher goal that that decreed by the president: fifty percent—some of which will be achieved by 2015. Or as US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus put it: “Our Navy and Marine Corps has never backed away from a challenge.” [ed. note: THAT makes me so damn patriotic I have no words. Anybody who says greenies aren't patriotic can go suck it.]
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Secretary Mabus told the Naval Energy Forum that they can cut their total energy consumption 50% by 2020 for ships, aircraft, tanks, vehicles, and shore installations by moving to more renewable energy. He reiterated that Navy F/A-18s will fly on renewable jet fuel within 3 years [previous story].
He sees it as a security issue saying, “We do not have operational independence and we are tied to a vulnerable logistics tail. When you factor in the cost of transportation to a coastal facility in Pakistan—or airlifting it to Kandahar—and then you add the cost you add the cost of putting it in a truck, guarding it, delivering it to the battlefield, and then transferring that one gallon into a piece of equipment that needs it—in extreme cases that gallon of gasoline could cost up to $400.”
For vehicles, they believe they can achieve a 50% reduction even sooner. By 2015 they will replace their current fleet of 50,000 gas guzzlers, as they go out of service, with “a new composite fleet of flex fuel vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and neighborhood electric vehicles.” [ed. note: a model for a diverse transportation portfolio indeed.]
So, if you make or sell any kind of solid and practical Gas 2.0-type transportation, looks like there’s going to be one huge market out there between now and 2015. Stay tuned!
Image: Travelinfool55
Source: GreenCarCongress
As a Navy guy, this makes me very proud! I hope we can achieve the goal that the Secretary has set for us. (And by the way, I don’t know whose planes those are in the picture but they don’t look like ours.)
I expect the SecNav will get a few brownie points from Obama while he blows a zillion dollars.
I know, Brian! But they just so perfectly illustrate the swift and steep cuts needed.
Actually, Russ - on looking into how Fort Irwin just inked the hugest solar farm in Dept of Defense history (previous - like 14 MW - this 1,000 MW)- I see how the the Army just showed the way to achieve this rapid turnaround WITHOUT blowing zillions:
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/16/how-fort-irwin-just-signed-the-largest-solar-farm-in-dept-of-defense-history/
That certainly gets brownie points from me!
Buying new 100% FFV’s and using E85 would be very smart move by the entire Military. They should have done it years ago. Another smart move would be to convert their older vehicles into FFV’s. That technology could be shared with the 3 idiots in Detroit, Dumb, Dumb and Dumber. It is amazing to me that the most Conservative part of our country, the Military, is leading the way with reducing our carbon footprint. Shame on California and New York. What hypocrits; they should have insisted that all new vehicles coming into their states be FFV 100% at least 5 years ago. Sales of E85 might have cut their carbon footprint in half by now. The Obamanistas really blew it when they didn’t require all new vehiles to be FFV 100 in 2010. It represents another failure of leadership by the young, naive, and irresponsible President.
But Dave,
the president’s recent Executive Order…
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/06/obamas-executive-order-enforces-smart-energy/
…that compels every Federal Agency (which includes Dept of Defense) to cut greenhouse gases 30% by 2020 will push them in the direction of vehicles like FFVs or EVs or hybrids or…? (Me, I want an EV. I’m glad my state doesn’t compel me to pick a FFV. Or compel you to buy an EV. There’s different ways to get to Gas 2.0 driving.)
That’s not just another “failure of leadership by the young, naive, and irresponsible President” ?
That’s leadership: whatever achieves the goal of clean renewable energy.
Frightening notion isn’t it! for all its might, the American Military is totally dependent on a ‘Tap” in Arab hands! No wonder we complacently oblige them, Halliburton(Dubai), by clearing the way for their pipeline plans to Turkmenistan Oil Fields and sales eventually to us and Asians too! If we don’t kiss up real nice they shut the tap off neutering us nicely! They did it in the great Oil Embargo once before, just to keep us on out toes, and obliging with our Sons and Daughter in slaughter, and they will do it, Blackmail style, as long as we remain vulnerable and without alternative! Solid Gold Tents in the deserts and great towers to Allah are built, and our children die in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever the “Quest for Oil” sends them! We liberate none! Sorrowfully, the “Ladies of Darfur” needed help, but no oil, no Yankee Doodle! and they died by genocide as we looked the other way! African Sisters! BUT: we had 650 Billions of dollars for Iraq, because our oil barons said so! Obama has finally taken the “Blinkers” off the Military! Will they see the light and change their ways? Apparently so! This article is sign of a revival of good sense in America and real wealth created on American soil, Solar Power!
First, for those who wanted to know these are CT-114 Tutor from the Canadian Demonstration team “The Snowbirds”. If you want to know more here is a link: “http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/ct114/index-eng.asp”
2nd Unfortunately the previous US President who blew away the Kyoto greenhouse talk and showed that the USA would not do it’s part in helping the planet that we all share. Now our Navy is taking the lead in changing this sad tale of into something we could be proud again.
3rd this will also help the military to stay out of harms way unless it’s truly necessary. This will probably save a lot of lives on both sides.
I really hope that this will help and thank you for those who serve and protect this wonderful country.
Hourray for the turn of tides about fuel consumption and not caring about the results of our actions. That goes for other things as well. Will we see all goverment agencies because more frugal in their spending( accountability) and helping the environment at the same time.
Me I will be waiting for the time when I can get solar panels on my house, a windmill to help with power production and a car that reduce my impact on nature and on my wallet.
Denny