Defense Energy Support Center And Air Transport Assn. Ink
Strategic Alliance
The Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Energy Support Center
and Air Transport Association of America, Inc., signed a strategic
alliance agreement Friday in Washington, D.C., recognizing a
partnership for the development and deployment of alternative
aviation fuels.
The agreement highlights the shared goals of the Department of
Defense and the principal U.S. airlines to advance the development
and deployment of commercially viable, environmentally friendly,
alternative aviation fuels. "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.
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 Washington, D.C. They will also hold an
industry forum at the 2010 DESC Worldwide Energy Conference where
they will meet jointly with alternative fuel suppliers to discuss
an array of projects across the country to deploy alternative
aviation fuels. The Worldwide Conference is scheduled for May 10-12
in National Harbor, MD. Working together in the area of alternative
fuels is not new between DESC and ATA.
May added, "today's (Friday'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."