THE world's most powerful air force is seeking to wean itself from foreign oil and nearly wipe out its carbon dioxide output as part of a sweeping alternative energy drive, a senior Pentagon official said.
By early 2011, the US air force aims to make sure its entire fleet of bombers, fighters, transports and other aircraft can use a domestically produced 50-50 blend of synthetic and petroleum-based fuel.
William Anderson, an assistant air force secretary, said the goal was to reduce energy demand, look for cleaner power sources and to reuse captured carbon commercially, for instance to enhance the growth of biofuels or improve oil well production.
"We can get ourselves very close to a zero carbon footprint," said Mr Anderson ahead of talks on the issue with counterparts in Britain and France next month.
"Not today. Not tomorrow. But maybe a decade or so down the road," he told a briefing at the State Department's Foreign Press Centre.