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March 22, 2010,
The Defense Logistics Agency’s
The agreement
highlights the shared goals of the Department of Defense and the
principal
“This is a
significant step forward in the alternative fuels arena, and further
shows commitment by the Department of Defense and the commercial
aviation industry in our mutual goal of promoting energy security and
safeguarding the health of our environment,” DESC Commander Rear Adm.
Kurt Kunkel said. |
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The intent of the strategic alliance is to establish a collaborative
forum focused on spurring aviation alternative fuels market growth.
“By collaborating, we reinforce our commitment to fostering the
widespread commercialization of alternative jet fuel,” said James C.
May, president and CEO of ATA. “In the evolving landscape of alternative
energy, it is in our collective interest to see aviation at the
forefront.
“The airline industry and DoD collectively require more than 1.5 million
barrels of jet fuel per day,” added May. “By combining our talents and
experience, we are better positioned to explore cooperative market
engagement for fuel, improve the financial prospects for alternative
fuels infrastructure, accelerate fuel certification efforts and refine
our methodology for determining environmental impacts.”
Kunkel noted that energy security impacts all DoD readiness, operations
and business decisions. The DESC, along with the Federal Government and
the rest of DoD, is transforming with regard to alternative fuel and
renewable energy.
“Doing what is right for our armed forces is an ingrained piece of our
mission at the Defense Logistics Agency and DESC. It drives us forward.
Doing what is right also means doing what is efficient and in the best
interest of our environment, while continuing to move forward with
technology and energy advancements,” Kunkel said. “The strategic
alliance represents this commitment.” |
The alliance
directs the formation of three collaborative teams composed of ATA and
DESC representatives, with each team focused on specific developmental
and marketing models of the alternative fuels goals.
May said that the
Environment Team will identify common methodologies for life cycle
assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for alternative aviation fuels.
The Deployment and Logistics team will identify locations or regions
suitable for alternative fuels production and deployment, as well as
means of distribution to and from those locations. The Contracting and
Finance team will jointly publicize supply opportunities, explore
opportunities for complementary fuel-supply agreements and develop
compatible pricing and finance mechanisms.
Already, the
alliance teams are scheduled to participate in a special aviation
session at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, Apr. 27-29 in
Working together
in the area of alternative fuels is not new between DESC and ATA.
May added,
“today’s announcement is a key step forward in a long-standing
relationship of collaboration between our nation’s airlines and the
military, and this alliance will generate tangible, long-lasting
benefits for the entire country.“
Through the
combined efforts of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels
Initiatives, a working group composed of ATA and DESC, fuels produced
using the Fischer-Tropsch process were approved for use in commercial
aviation in September. Additionally, approval of a new class of fuels –
hydrotreated renewable jet – is expected in the second half of 2010.
“Development of
alternative fuels as an energy solution to our customers and the
commercial aviation industry is still in the initial stages, but actions
such as this alliance will make those potential solutions a reality as
we work together and leverage our capabilities,” said Kunkel. “We have
outstanding, committed goals for alternative fuel and renewable energy
in the future, but reaching our goals is a team and collaborative effort
– no one can do it alone. This strategic alliance is creating one of
those teams and we are happy to be part of it.”
The DESC, a field
activity of the Defense Logistics Agency, is responsible for the
end-to-end supply chain management of petroleum products for the
Department of Defense’s customer base. The center’s mission is to
provide energy solutions worldwide in the most effective and economical
manner possible. |
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