Naval Station Norfolk debuts Great Green Fleet
Elizabeth Jones
Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 4:59:32 PM
A new aircraft carrier strike group was debuted at Naval Station Norfolk recently, but it was markedly different from its predecessors. The group is the first to be powered by alternative fuel, after Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus led the mission to reduce the Navy's oil dependence in 2009, the Center for American Progress reports.
The Riverine Command Boat at Naval Station Norfolk is powered by 50 percent algae-based fuels and 50 percent NATO F-76 fuels, reducing its overall energy consumption. It is part of the "Great Green Fleet," a milestone in the Department of Defense's goal of reducing dependence on oil and diversifying its fuel sources.
The Great Green Fleet will deploy in 2016, but before then, the Navy is conducting a demonstration during the 2012 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which is the world's largest international maritime exercise, according to the DoD.
The DoD reports that nearly 450,000 gallons of biofuel were purchased in 2011 for the Great Green Fleet demonstration, showing how these alternative fuels can be used just as effectively as traditional oil but with potential cost savings in the long run. According to the Center for American Progress, the DoD estimates that for every $1 increase in the cost of oil per barrel, the military tacks an additional $130 million to its costs.
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