McCain sees another Solyndra in Navy biofuels spending

Whoever is behind the Navy pushing biofuels needs a reality check.  This is strange to see McCain going after the Secretary of Navy Mabus as he usually has the Air Force in his sites.  His comparison to Solyndra seems a likely scenario even as the Navy Secretary spins.

This statement by Senator Inhofe (R-OK) says it all:

In response to McCain’s comments, Mabus said the Navy would never purchase any kind of alternative fuel at $400 per gallon. 

The Navy would only start buying biofuels en masse if alternative energy firms could provide that fuel at a commercially competitive price, Mabus said. 

But Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) pointed out that even at a competitive price, the Navy’s plan to use a “50/50 blend” of diesel fuel and a biofuel supplement would still cost $15 per gallon. Traditional JP-5 jet fuel used in the Navy’s fighter aircraft runs $4 to $5 per gallon on average, Inhofe said. 

Did the Secretary of the Navy think he could get this past McCain and Inhofe?  Not very smart of the Secretary.  Does the Navy want to pay at least $10 more a gallon for biofuels which is probably a low ball estimate so they can curry favor with Obama?  That is the only answer I can come up with in these times of reduced funds for the DoD.  Why should the other services have to prop up the 'Green' Navy as the Secretary of the Navy wants biofuels costing a lot more dollars?

Very tight dollars in DoD and the Secretary of the Navy is on a boondoggle when you read this story:

McCain sees another Solyndra in Navy biofuels spending
By Carlo Munoz - 03/15/12 02:07 PM ET 

The Navy’s push to develop biofuels to run its fleet of planes and warships could devolve into a “Solyndra situation” for the Pentagon, a top Republican senator said today. 

During Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, ranking member John McCain (R-Ariz.) compared the now-bankrupt solar energy company, into which the White House sank $535 million in loan guarantees, to Navy-led efforts in alternative energy.

McCain hammered away at Navy Secretary Ray Mabus during the hearing over the Navy’s continued investment in biofuel technology. 

The Navy has spent more than $400 per gallon for roughly 20,000 gallons of algae-based biofuel for testing, McCain said. 

That kind of substantial investment in green fuels, especially during a time of shrinking defense budgets, is simply unacceptable, he said. 

Given the Navy’s recent track record in its alternative fuels program, McCain said, “maybe [this] will be another Solyndra situation.” 

McCain told Mabus and committee members that he plans to introduce amendments to the Pentagon’s fiscal 2013 budget to address the Navy’s alternative energy plans. 

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said he could not comment on what those proposed amendments might include, noting that floor debate on the defense bill for fiscal 2013 is months away. 

In response to McCain’s comments, Mabus said the Navy would never purchase any kind of alternative fuel at $400 per gallon. 

The Navy would only start buying biofuels en masse if alternative energy firms could provide that fuel at a commercially competitive price, Mabus said. 

But Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) pointed out that even at a competitive price, the Navy’s plan to use a “50/50 blend” of diesel fuel and a biofuel supplement would still cost $15 per gallon. Traditional JP-5 jet fuel used in the Navy’s fighter aircraft runs $4 to $5 per gallon on average, Inhofe said. 

This is the second time this year that Republican lawmakers have lambasted the Navy’s alternative energy goals. 

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), a member of the House Armed Services subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, took Mabus to task in February over the service’s plans.
“Shouldn’t we refocus our priorities and make those things our priorities instead of advancing a biofuels market?” Forbes asked at the time. 

Before Mabus could respond, the Virginia Republican took a clear shot at the secretary: “You’re not the secretary of the Energy. You’re the secretary of the Navy.” 

Source:  The Hill