“The use of ethanol is important to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower the cost of fossil fuels.
I have met with many agricultural groups in the Second District and am proud that Minnesota has been a leader in renewable fuels and the use of ethanol.
It is time for the entire country to follow in our footsteps.”
– John Kline (R-MN-02) in a January 15, 2007 Press Release announcing his new legislation HR 349 pictured with representatives of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

Last week, in a move that could be a major setback to the Navy’s plans to operate a “Great Green Fleet” of aircraft and surface ships that run on biofuels, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted to ban the Defense Department from buying or producing alternative fuels.

HASC Member Kline said the program is too expensive at a time when the military is facing budget cuts.
“We don’t want the military right now to be used for the commercialization of that when it’s costing so much money and the military just doesn’t have it,” he said.
Kline said he supports further research and development into biofuels for the military, just not their widespread use.

Gosh, so in 2007, John Kline was “all in” for farmers being a part of America’s effort to lessen the reliance on foreign produced oil … and now, “no can do”.
And it isn’t that efforts haven’t been made …

The C-17 Globemaster III has been certified for unlimited usage of hydroprocessed blended biofuels known as hydrotreated renewable jet fuels (HRJ), officials announced Feb. 9, 2011.

According to Dr. Kevin Geiss, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, the move to certify the fleet using the HRJ blend of fuel represents the Air Force’s commitment to assuring the supply, no matter the source, meets the service’s required standards, and demonstrates the Air Force’s commitment to reducing its dependency on foreign sources of oil.

According to Jeff Braun, the Air Force’s alternative fuel certification office chief, the blended fuel evaluation that combined additional analyses from Boeing, Parker ESD and Pratt & Whitney resulted in no significant differences in engine stability, thrust response or engine steady-state performance.

Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, added that unlike conventional jet fuel, biofuels burn cleaner without compounds like sulfur.

“The Air Force is seeking alternative fuels that are ‘greener’ than the existing petroleum fuels paradigm, but don’t add to, or complicate, any logistical considerations for our jet fuel needs, and have the potential to be cost-competitive,” Mr. Yonkers said. “And HRJ blended fuels have us very excited.”

Mr. Yonkers added that Air Force officials will bring the achievement to their partners within the DOD and industry, and will work to further integrate efforts on testing alternative fuels and the certification of platforms.

“This is a big deal,” Mr. Yonkers said.

While issueing press releases extolling the concept of “all-of-the-above energy strategy that will increase American energy production, bring down rising prices, create jobs, and make America less dependent on foreign regimes”, Mr. Kline is backtracking from supporting American-produced bio-fuels … and the military’s goal to operate a “Great Green Fleet“.

The argument offered by Mr. Kline that “military just doesn’t have” the monies seem to be invalid when looking at other aspects of the Defense funding … such as …

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee proposed funding the construction of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in fiscal year 2013 instead of the two the Navy requested.

Yeah, no money … a new Flight III versions of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer could cost between $3 and nearly $4 billion.
It’s a matter of choices — one more ship that the Navy did not request … or increasing domestic production of bio-fuels — John Kline has made his choice.
Voters will weigh-in November if they agree with Mr. Kline’s choice.