US fund to develop biofuels for military jets

The US Government has announced funding worth nearly $18 million (£11.8m) for new projects to develop advanced biofuels for military jets and ships. The cash will be used for four […]

The US Government has announced funding worth nearly $18 million (£11.8m) for new projects to develop advanced biofuels for military jets and ships.

The cash will be used for four innovative pilot-scale bio-refineries in California, Iowa and Washington. They will test renewable biofuels as a domestic alternative to power cars, trucks and planes that meet military specifications for jet fuel and shipboard diesel.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said: “The innovative biorefinery projects mark an important step toward producing fuels for our American military and the civil aviation industry from renewable resources found right here in the United States.”

According to the US Department of Energy, which provided the funding, advanced biofuels have the potential to displace approximately one-third of the nation’s current transportation fuel use. The companies chosen for the cash will be required to invest enough to match at least 50% of the funding themselves.

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