Accession Number:

ADA609317

Title:

Energy Security Requires Diversity: An Argument for The Defense Production Act Title III Biofuel Initiative

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV WASHINGTON DC NATIONAL LAW CENTER

Personal Author(s):

• Simodynes, Hollis N.

Report Date:

2013-06-19

Pagination or Media Count:

69.0

Abstract:

The U.S. military has historically taken a role in technological advancements, helping to create mature industries which are cost-competitive after an initial period of federal financial support. After 40 years of national security strategy in which the military was called upon to react to our nations overreliance on politically unstable sources of conventional fuel, the time has come to create a domestic alternative fuels market which will enhance American energy independence and security. The United States Navy has taken the lead in this charge by proposing the Defense Production Act DPA Title III Biofuel Initiative to assist the development of a sustainable commercial biofuels industry which will help the nation achieve energy security by providing diversity of energy supply which will reduce the power the oil market has over the nation as a whole. Section II of this paper discusses the nations demand for petroleum, how it has impacted national security strategy, and examines the political, economic, and military costs of reliance on oil. Section III reviews the historical uses of the DPA in which the federal government has provided financial support to industries critical to the national defense. Section IV introduces the DPA Title III Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project, which is discussed in terms of political and technological viability. The commercial aviation industrys pursuit of biofuels is discussed and the benefits of long-term contracting and hedging are explored. It concludes with the recommendation to allow the biofuel initiative to work to create a domestic advanced biofuel industry before the next oil crisis occurs.

Descriptors:

• *DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• *ENERGY
• *SECURITY
• BENEFITS
• COMMERCE
• COMMERCIAL AVIATION
• COST EFFECTIVENESS
• COSTS
• CRISIS MANAGEMENT
• DOMESTIC
• FINANCE
• FUELS
• INDUSTRIES
• MARKETING
• NATIONS
• NAVY
• OILS
• POWER
• PRODUCTION
• PURSUIT COURSES
• SOURCES
• STRATEGY
• SUPPLIES
• UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
• VIABILITY

Subject Categories:

• Non-electrical Energy Conversion
• Defense Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE