May 25: Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and a Senior Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, welcomed what he called "successful bipartisan votes on amendments that he sponsored to the Defense Authorization bill which will hold the Obama administration accountable for forcing the Department of Defense (DoD) to spend scarce resources on a far left green agenda." Last week, Senator Inhofe took to the Senate floor to express his concern and vowed that he would introduce a number of amendments that would prevent President Obama from making DoD go green at an exorbitant price tag, especially when he has cut funds for essential military programs.
Senator Inhofe said, "Through passage of these amendments to the Defense authorization bill in committee, the Senate has taken a significant step to rein in the radical green agenda that President Obama is attempting to impose on our military. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and a Senior Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have been committed to stopping President Obama from forcing the Department of Defense to spend enormous amounts of scarce resources on pointless global warming efforts, all while he is gutting our military, drastically reducing DoD's budget, and cutting core programs that are vital to our troops' safety. The good news is that we have been able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to prevent President Obama from achieving many aspects of his war on affordable energy at DoD. President Obama's efforts to green the military just further represent the separation between his phony reelection rhetoric and his true agenda. There is nothing 'all-of-the-above' about him trying to destroy fossil fuel use in the military so that he can impose his radical green regime. Once again, his actions speak louder than his words.
Sen. Inhofe said, "I would like to applaud my friend, Ranking Member Senator McCain [R-AZ], for his important work on this issue. As he rightly said, we were able to 'restrict the Department of the Navy to a reasonable approach rather than spending $244 a gallon' - it was a pleasure teaming up with him to achieve this. I will continue to work with my colleagues to build on the success of today and look forward to making more progress reining in President Obama's failed far left green agenda."
Senator Inhofe said, "Through passage of these amendments to the Defense authorization bill in committee, the Senate has taken a significant step to rein in the radical green agenda that President Obama is attempting to impose on our military. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and a Senior Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have been committed to stopping President Obama from forcing the Department of Defense to spend enormous amounts of scarce resources on pointless global warming efforts, all while he is gutting our military, drastically reducing DoD's budget, and cutting core programs that are vital to our troops' safety. The good news is that we have been able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to prevent President Obama from achieving many aspects of his war on affordable energy at DoD. President Obama's efforts to green the military just further represent the separation between his phony reelection rhetoric and his true agenda. There is nothing 'all-of-the-above' about him trying to destroy fossil fuel use in the military so that he can impose his radical green regime. Once again, his actions speak louder than his words.
Sen. Inhofe said, "I would like to applaud my friend, Ranking Member Senator McCain [R-AZ], for his important work on this issue. As he rightly said, we were able to 'restrict the Department of the Navy to a reasonable approach rather than spending $244 a gallon' - it was a pleasure teaming up with him to achieve this. I will continue to work with my colleagues to build on the success of today and look forward to making more progress reining in President Obama's failed far left green agenda."
In fact, the amendments were very controversial and were narrowly approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee. One amendment: To make certain alternative fuel procurement requirements, as required by Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, inapplicable to the Department of Defense failed on a roll call vote, 13-13. A second amendment: To include a provision that would prohibit the use of funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense in FY 2013 from being obligated or expended for the production or sole purchase of an alternative fuel if the cost exceeds the cost of traditional fossil fuels used for the same purpose, except for continued testing purposes, passed on a roll call vote, 13-12. And, another amendment: To prohibit the construction of a biofuels refinery or any other facility or infrastructure used to refine biofuels unless the requirement is specifically authorized by law passed on a roll call vote, 13-12.
On May 23, Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), a supporter of the Department of Defense's development and use of renewable fuels, issued a statement saying, "The United States has always maintained its strategic superiority in the world by refusing to be satisfied with the status quo. Our energy policy -- for consumers at home and our military -- should take the same approach. We need to change the way we approach energy policy now, so our military and our economy are not beholden to just one fuel source -- especially one that overwhelmingly is located in unstable parts of the world. It is time for Congress to recognize that saving energy saves lives, especially when it comes to our troops in harm's way."
Sen. Udall said, "Leaving our armed forces vulnerable to swings in the energy markets is neither fiscally prudent, nor is it a sound approach to national security. I plan to continue to work with the armed forces and my colleagues to make renewable energies part of our national defense strategy." He said the rising and unpredictable cost of energy "has a steep price tag for the Department of Defense." The U.S. military consumes more than 300,000 barrels of oil every 24 hours. Each time the price per barrel of oil rises by a single dollar, the annual Pentagon budget jumps by more than $130 million. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the price of oil has risen $72 dollars since May 2001.
In a guest column for Stars and Stripes, Sen. Udall said in part, "Alternative energy sources such as biofuels, tactical solar arrays and state-of-the-art batteries save lives by reducing the number of convoys and resupply missions in combat zones. In fact, Marines who had recently returned from Afghanistan told me that using portable solar technology allowed them to shed 10 to 15 pounds of batteries from their packs -- dead weight they were able to replace with critical ammunition and supplies. . . Not allowing the military to pursue alternative fuel sources leaves our defense budget and our national security in the dark ages. An addiction to volatile supply lines allows foreign governments, such as Iran, to hold our military and our budget hostage."
In a guest column for Stars and Stripes, Sen. Udall said in part, "Alternative energy sources such as biofuels, tactical solar arrays and state-of-the-art batteries save lives by reducing the number of convoys and resupply missions in combat zones. In fact, Marines who had recently returned from Afghanistan told me that using portable solar technology allowed them to shed 10 to 15 pounds of batteries from their packs -- dead weight they were able to replace with critical ammunition and supplies. . . Not allowing the military to pursue alternative fuel sources leaves our defense budget and our national security in the dark ages. An addiction to volatile supply lines allows foreign governments, such as Iran, to hold our military and our budget hostage."
The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate, urged Senators to support the DOD efforts to accelerate production of American-made, advanced, "drop-in" biofuels for use in military jets, ships, and vehicles. Advanced biofuels can help power our military, address security of supply, mitigate price volatility, diversify military fuel supplies and enhance U.S. national security. Pew said in a letter, "U.S. 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. Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the premiere clean energy data and analysis firm, forecasts that advanced biofuels will be cost competitive by 2018."
The Advanced Biofuels Association, the Algal Biomass Organization, Airlines for America, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, Growth Energy, and the Pew Charitable Trusts all expressed disappointment that the Senate Armed Services Committee adopted amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act blocking the Department of Defense's (DoD) use of domestically produced alternative energy. The groups released this joint statement:
"Continued reliance on foreign oil puts U.S. national security at risk. Oil market volatility has already wreaked havoc on military budgets, which came at the cost of new equipment and training for our troops and reduced military readiness. In fiscal years 2011 and 2012, DoD came up $5.6 billion short in its budget for military operations and maintenance because it spent more on fuel than anticipated. Moreover, the United States sends $1 billion overseas each and every day to pay for foreign oil, further draining resources from the U.S. economy.
"U.S. advanced biofuel producers have made rapid progress toward cost-competitiveness. The per-gallon cost of test quantities of advanced biofuels under DoD 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 lead the nation's effort to achieve energy security. We will work with Members of the Senate to restore support within the NDAA for the DoD's commitment to accelerate production of American-made, advanced, 'drop-in' biofuels for use in military jets, ships, and vehicles."
Access a release from Sen. Inhofe with links to additional information and the amendments (click here). Access a release from Sen. Udall with links to related information (click here). Access a 33-page release and summary of the markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2013 (click here). Access the roll call votes on various amendments (click here). Access the Pew Project letter and links to related information (click here). Access the joint statement from the industry groups and organizations (click here). [#Energy/Alternative]
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