By Kari Williamson

The biofuels initiative is being steered by the White House Biofuels Interagency Work Group and Rural Council.

"Biofuels are an important part of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs here at home," President Obama says. "But supporting biofuels cannot be the role of Government alone. That's why we're partnering with the private sector to speed development of next-generation biofuels that will help us continue to take steps towards energy independence and strengthen communities across our country."

To accelerate the production of bio-based jet and diesel biofuels for military and commercial purposes, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus plan to jointly construct or retrofit several drop-in biofuel plants and refineries.

"America's long-term national security depends upon a commercially viable domestic biofuels market that will benefit taxpayers while simultaneously giving Sailors and Marines tactical and strategic advantages," says Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.