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Rep. Randy Forbes, (R-Va), on the Navy’s increased use of expensive biofuels rather than diesel.
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Not -- case of government gone wild but media spending a ton.
-- -- green -- -- a great green fleet exercise in the Pacific.
-- filling up the tanks would biofuels at 27.
Bucks a gallon.
Conventional diesel fuel.
Less than four box -- -- congressman Randy.
Republican from Virginia it was also a member of the house armed services committee thank you so much for joining us congressman.
These scenes -- agreeing -- you tell us how to something like this -- what are you gonna do about it.
-- -- so we've been trying to just get some analysis from the sector in the navy so far they haven't had any and you mentioned 26 dollars a gallon but the really astonishing -- They spend as much as 454.
Dollars a gallon for this same kind of feel.
And the other thing Melissa that a lot of people don't realize is that they can fill up at the -- one time.
But that's it nanny percent of all the fuel that they have to -- Arab -- are deployed.
Are purchased overseas and they won't be -- use this and also they're spending all this money.
For blend that will effectively at most could be 5% of fuel that these vessels are using it.
Absolutely economics we don't even make enough of this stuff in our contributed we decided for some insane reason that we are gonna run the entire fleet on this fuel.
It's -- possible for us to make -- and I know you are quoting some other numbers.
From the solar sign company when they originally bought the fuel this is the first time out basement eight point five million dollars on -- -- 20000 gallons which comes out.
To 424.
Gallons that was made from algae.
One of the strategic advisors on that particular deal was from president Obama's White House transition team.
Is there -- more to this is it is it pro green politics or is it even more nefarious than that.
-- Melissa we don't know but and there are allegations that of course that what they're trying to do is create these artificial markets because of people that they want to help but.
I can't answer that question the only thing we know is that -- we have all of their experts all of the assistant secretaries.
Who handle energy before -- and -- readiness subcommittee.
We've asked them do you have any analysis -- all that shows that this is gonna work.
When the curve winds will meet in terms of cost.
Melissa so far to date they said they don't have any analysis in fact what they've said.
It's their goals are just stretch -- in other words they're just putting a map there and hoping they'll hit them and we've been spending millions of millions of dollars to great these artificial markets.
The does that make good economic sense.
Last month Defense Secretary Panetta said to congress quote you know we are looking to make our installations and operations more fuel efficient and diverse higher energy sources.
Including with alternative fuels I oppose efforts by congress.
To limit the department's options for using alternative fuels so this is a quote from Leon Panetta saying that they're basically gonna go ahead and keep doing this no matter what you say what's your response that what are you gonna do.
-- Melissa we're gonna keep holding them accountable before hearings and before with our budget.
That we pass out of the house but the most important thing that we continue to ask them -- Worst your analysis just show us the analysis.
And I think the air force has taken the better approach but the air -- -- -- is we'll do the research and the development and then at the private sector develops this.
We're more than happy to step in and but we're not gonna put the cart before the wars we're knocking -- -- -- of dollars to create a market that just isn't they are right.
-- -- they are spending millions of dollars because you know it's at the defense energy and Agriculture Department are are matching dollars thirty million dollars in matching funds available to companies working to produce large score scale bio fuel plants.
Another seventy million dollars in funding for another matching program.
All the -- -- -- office.
We're trying to Melissa in fact we did pull the plug in the last the defense authorization bill.
But of all the secretaries that should not be involved in this that should be the second period in -- united that this administration is cutting shifts they've cut that men and women that serve on during.
They're cutting has.
Airplanes.
They're cutting their benefits but never has secretary -- come -- -- said.
-- my gosh we wanna stop all those cuts what he's done instead is to increase the amount of money.
That they're spending for biofuels that's what he gives his major speeches on it doesn't make sense for the sector in an eighty.
He really wants to be the sector of energy I think Melissa.
Congress and we certainly understand the idea that we don't wanna be dependent on foreign oil but we're spending money on this -- we could be spending money on so many other things in the defence arena I think that was your point.
And that is a good what thank you so much for coming on tonight congressman we appreciate it thank you Melissa have a great.
