Tester statement on successful flight of Navy fighter jet fueled by Montana camelina

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the U.S. Navy’s successful test flight of an F/A 18 Super Hornet fueled by Montana-grown camelina biofuel:

“Today’s flight opens the door to a whole new world of possibilities with camelina.  It’s a homegrown, renewable fuel that holds a lot of promise for America’s energy security, and for jobs.  Montana is going to have a front-row seat as we move forward.”

Tester is a longtime advocate of camelina, a plant whose seeds have high oil content.

In 2007, Tester wrote a successful amendment that was included in the Farm Bill to create a federal crop insurance pilot program for farmers who grow camelina.

Today’s 45-minute test flight of the Navy’s fighter jet, dubbed the “Green Hornet,” took place in Maryland.  Bozeman-based Sustainable Oils worked with the Navy to produce 40,000 gallons of Montana-grown camelina biofuel for the Navy’s test program.