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The United States Air Force (USAF) is the largest energy consumer in the Department of Defense (DoD). Volatile oil prices force the USAF to divert money from training budgets and weapon system procurement accounts to cover increased costs due to unbudgeted fuel expenses. In conjunction with the President's mandate to reduce dependency on foreign procured oil and in an effort to stem unfunded fuel expenses, the USAF established an active alternative energy program focused on increased conservation and the development of new, domestic sources of fuel. This paper will examine biologically produced fuel alternatives and their ability to meet USAF jet fuel requirements by the year 2025. This paper examines ethanol, terrestrial produced biodiesel, algae oil, and biobutanol and each fuel's ability to meet JP-8 fuel standards while achieving compatibility with USAF aircraft and fuel distribution systems. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations that support the continued development of biofuel technology to reduce USAF dependency on foreign procured oil., Occasional Paper No. 62.

This project was undertaken at the request of the Office of Fuels and Energy in the U.S. Department of State. Its purpose, as stated in your letter of August 20, 1974 is to: determine the total stocks of crude oil and product maintained by the petroleum industry in the United States under OECD definition of stocks; quantify the amount of OECD defined stocks which could be 'available' for consumption in an emergency by determining those stocks that are physically unavailable, e.g., in the form of pipeline fill, tank bottoms, etc., and the amount technically 'available' but regarded by the petroleum industry as unavailable for drawndown purposes; and calculate the number of days of self-sufficiency represented by 'available' stocks based upon the current level of imports.