WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The U.S. Department of the Navy and
Purdue University signed a statement of cooperation Thursday (May 8), agreeing
to work together to convert up to half of the Navy and Marine Corps' energy
consumption to alternative sources, including biofuels, by 2020.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels and U.S. Secretary of the
Navy Ray Mabus signed the agreement during a ceremony in Stewart Center's
Fowler Hall. The document spells out how the Big Ten research university will
work with the Navy to help meet several alternative energy and environmental
targets Mabus first laid out in 2009.
"The Department of the Navy and Purdue have a deep
interest in working together to reduce reliance on carbon-based fuels and
energy sources," Mabus said. "Not only does this help decrease our
dependence on fossil fuel, it makes our Navy and Marine Corps a better
warfighting force."
Mabus also noted the statement of cooperation will benefit
more than just Purdue and the Department of the Navy.
"By working together to achieve our energy goals, a
partnership between the Navy and Purdue will help us maximize our reach,
maintain our global presence, and make our Navy and Marine Corps more combat
capable. In short, we as a Navy and we as a nation will have an edge. Teaming
up with research centers is an important part of maintaining the strength of
the partnership between our Navy and the American people," he said.
Through this agreement, Purdue and the Navy and Marine Corps
will examine efforts designed to improve energy conservation, renewable-energy
generation and the implementation of energy-efficient technologies in all areas
of application, Daniels said.
"Together, the Navy and Purdue will focus on promoting
more efficient production and refinement of advanced biofuels and sharing and
discussing the results of testing and demonstration projects involving the
certification of advanced alternative fuels in aviation and marine
engines," Daniels said. "We also will pursue agricultural and other
biobased feedstocks that will ensure the most economically viable production of
advanced alternative fuels."
In addition, Purdue will establish the Purdue Military
Research Initiative, an annual, no-cost graduate education for up to 10
active-duty officers across all branches of the U.S. military. Areas of study
will include renewable energy, alternative fuels and energy technologies.
Mabus, who was appointed the 75th Secretary of the Navy in
May 2009, immediately made energy and energy security a priority for the
Department of the Navy and has directed the Navy and Marine Corps to change the
way they use, produce and acquire energy.
Upon assuming office, Mabus set a goal aimed at ensuring
that, by no later than 2020, the Navy and Marine Corps would obtain at least 50
percent of their energy from alternative sources. He also pledged that by 2015,
the Navy would cut in half the amount of petroleum used in its commercial
vehicle fleet through phased adoption of hybrid, electric and flex-fuel
vehicles.
"Energy reform must inform and shape every decision we
make during research, development and procurement of our systems," he
said. "With a consolidated Navy and Marine Corps effort, we will reduce
our reliance on fossil fuels, reduce our tactical and strategic vulnerabilities,
increase our combat capability, and make the Department of the Navy a
government leader in energy reform."
Mabus is responsible for an annual budget in excess of $170
billion and the leadership of almost 900,000 people.
Purdue scientists and engineers are focused on developing
future power sources, including methods that use solar and nuclear energy,
clean-coal technology, bioenergy and wind turbines. Its Energy Center in
Discovery Park is bringing together more than 1,000 faculty members from across
academic disciplines, working with industry, foundations, and government
agencies and laboratories to find ways to reduce America's dependence on
foreign oil and to develop new strategies for alternative fuels.
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