Applying simple, innovative ideas has helped the Air Force reduce its fossil fuel use by 9 percent since 2003 and its overall energy use on bases by almost 15 percent over that span, says Air Force Undersecretary Erin Conaton. “We’re looking at things in very simple terms, but I think the simple terms are what get us there,” she said during a recent Clean Energy Forum sponsored by the White House Office of Energy and Climate. Conaton noted that Air Mobility Command officials have been working to reduce the commands’ energy consumption by “reducing aircraft weight, decreasing auxiliary power unit use, and coordinating better with our foreign partners” to find more energy-efficient travel routes. Additional energy initiatives service-wide include wind turbines at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and North America’s largest solar photovoltaic system at Nellis AFB, Nev., she said in her July 27 address. (SAF/PA release by MSgt. Russell Petcoff) (See also Energized Leadership.)
Due to the prolonged delay in deliveries of the Tech Refresh 3 version of the F-35 fighter, Denmark is pulling six of its TR-2-configured F-35 jets stationed in the U.S. back to home base in order to consolidate aircraft and get better training for its pilots and maintainers, the Danish…