As Navy Pays 622% More For Green Fuel, Refueling Of Nuclear Carrier Delayed Due To Fiscal Uncertainties

In what is no doubt intended as an indirect commentary from the military about the possibility of sequester cuts, the fueling and refit of the USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear carrier, is being delayed due to fiscal uncertainties:

The U.S. Navy will delay the refueling of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for an unknown period because of the uncertain fiscal environment due to the ongoing legislative struggle, the service told Congress in a Friday message obtained by USNI News. Lincoln was scheduled to be moved to Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipyard later this month to begin the 4-year refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the ship.

“This delay is due to uncertainty in the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill, both in the timing and funding level available for the first full year of the contract,” the message said. “CVN-72 will remain at Norfolk Naval Base where the ships force personnel will continue to conduct routine maintenance until sufficient funding is received for the initial execution of the RCOH.”

There’s something to be said about the hurt uncertainty is doing our nation. Whether it’s individuals, business owners or the mighty US military the utter lack of fiscal discipline and responsibility shown by federal government under the leadership of congressional Democrats and President Obama is taking a toll.

You can’t plan for success when there is no certain budget or tax/regulatory environment.

That being said, it’s a little hard to feel sorry for the Navy when it comes to fiscal uncertainty when they’re spending 622% more for “green fuel.”

Regular fuel for the US Navy costs $3.60/gallon for the US Navy according to Reuters (that seems awfully low for aviation fuel, but maybe that’s a bulk rate). But one carrier group is getting fuel that costs 622% more, a whopping $26/gallon, for “green fuel” made from things like algae and chicken fat.

It’s amazing how much resistance there is to budget cuts when it’s so clear that the federal government spends our tax dollars in so many stupid ways.

Our military is being weakened not just because our elected leaders can’t budget like adults, but because we do stupid things like trying to run a navy on chick fat and algae.