Officials at Robins AFB, Ga., are taking steps to reduce the base’s dependency on fossil fuels in order to abide by federal regulations. More than a third of the nearly 900 vehicles at Robins are now powered by biodiesel or E-85 alternative fuels, states a Jan. 27 base release. Robins also will acquire two new Chevy Volts and install a charging station for electric cars this spring. “We are continually looking at ways to reduce emissions and (the) use of fossil fuels,” said Mitch Moody of the 78th’s Vehicle Maintenance Flight at Robins. The biodiesel is comprised of 80 percent petroleum and 20 percent alternative biological ingredients, such as plant oils or animal fat, and can actually increase vehicle power and performance while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the release. In 2013, Robins used almost 155,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel and has used nearly 53,000 gallons of E-85, states the release.
Lockheed Martin projects more than a billion dollars of losses on a classified program, but company officials said April 23 they are confident it will turn profitable by 2028 and become a "franchise" system in the U.S. military.