Air Force Secretary Mic
hael Donley last month signed the Air Force energy program policy (full document) that will serve as the blueprint for how the service institutes energy efficiency and conservation in all aspects of its operations. “The Air Force energy strategy furthers an energy future that is secure, efficient, and environmentally sound” Donley said in a release yesterday. The document outlines the efforts underway and in development to reduce the service’s energy demand while increasing supply—especially from domestic sources of renewable and alternative energy—and ushering in a cultural change so that airmen make energy conservation a daily consideration. Among the activities, the Air Force wants to reduce aviation fuel use per hour of operation by 10 percent (2005 baseline) by 2015 and installation energy intensity by three percent per annum. It aims to increase facility renewable energy use at annual targets of five percent by Fiscal 2010 and 25 percent by Fiscal 2020. It seeks to be positioned by 2016 to acquire half of its domestic aviation fuel via an alternative fuel blend. The document reiterates the objective of certifying all aircraft in the fleet to run on a 50/50 mix of JP-8 jet fuel and synthetic paraffinic kerosene by 2011. The policy also calls for implementing an energy curriculum at the Air Force Academy and Air University by 2010 and providing energy leadership through energy management steering groups. Management of service-wide energy issues will fall to the undersecretary of the Air Force, but, since that post is still vacant, the assistant secretary for installations, environment, and logistics will take the lead. Earlier this year, Air Force officials said the service’s energy initiatives would become more joint in nature.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.