SynFuels Market Gets A.F. Boost

A C-17 Globemaster brought the use of synthetic fuel one step closer this week when it used synthetic, coal-derived fuel to fly from McChord Air Force Base in Washington state to McGuire Air Force base in New Jersey. Full certification for using the new fuel is expected shortly, the second aircraft to be so certified after the B-52. The goal is to get the entire air force on the fuel by 2011, cutting reliance on foreign oil completely. An ancillary goal is to kick start similar efforts in the civilian sector, according to Assistant Secretary William Anderson with the Air Force’s Installations, Environment and Logistics who briefed reporters recently, Air Force Times reported. The Air Force includes several initiatives in its self reliance, alternative energy projects. As the government largest oil consumer, he told the Air Force Times, the Air Force must use its buying power to kick-start the private sector’s fledgling alternative fuels market. The Air Force wants to build the market to provide 400 million gallons of synthetic fuel by 2016 in addition to bringing allies on board. It is also heavily researching biofuels.