Senate panel approves defense bill with biofuels funds

Source: Reuters

Senate panel approves defense bill with biofuels funds

WASHINGTON | Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:48pm EDT

(Reuters) - A Senate subcommittee approved legislation on Tuesday that continues funding for the Pentagon's use of biofuels, a senator said, in a move pushing back against critics trying to limit outlays on programs such as the Navy's "Great Green Fleet."

Some biofuels funding was included in a $604 billion defense spending bill for fiscal 2013 passed by the Senate's defense appropriations subcommittee, the panel's chairman, Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, told reporters.

"I think we do have funding for that," Inouye said. He did not give the amount, and committee aides said they could not provide details before Thursday, when the defense spending bill goes to the full appropriations committee for a vote.

A committee summary of the defense bill said it included increases in the area of alternative energy but gave no details.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/31/us-usa-biofuels-defense-idUSBRE86U1G320120731