Air Force tests synfuel in jets
The Air Force consumes more than half the fuel used by the entire U.S. government; in fiscal year 2005, it guzzled 3.2 billion gallons of jet fuel at a cost of $4.7 billion. Under a directive from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the military is conducting tests to determine whether jets can fly on fuel blended with a synthetic liquid derived from natural gas. The Air Force’s Michael A. Aimone says the intent is “to develop enough independence to have assured domestic supplies for aviation purposes.” You know, in case any resource wars break out. Not that they will! Ahem. If tests are successful, other branches of the military may also run on synfuel, which would eventually be derived from coal. Says the CEO of Syntroleum, the military’s synfuel provider, “We really believe that one of the things we can do to help our country’s energy needs is to use the abundance of coal reserves.” Coal and war: a match made … somewhere.
