Push Auto Manufacturers to Produce Advanced-Fuel Vehicles with S.835 OFS Act-


Back in 2007, Congress passed a new law which will require gasoline refiners to blend a higher percentage of biofuel into gasoline, and added a requirement for 21 billion gallons of “advanced biofuels” by 2022 as part of this revised Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS2”). The Department of Energy (DOE) approximates that every 42-gallon barrel of oil we import in America yields roughly 20 gallons of gasoline; as an alternative, traditional and advanced biofuels could replace about 3 million barrels of crude oil on a daily basis. Seeing as the DOE predicts electric cars and plug-in hybrids to encompass an insubstantial 3 percent of the United States auto fleet by the year 2030, it appears that biofuel can be a more sound, dependable path down the long-winding road to sustainability. Nevertheless, there are rigid barriers to get through before we reach that even plateau, as particular members of Congress still refuse to ensure a sustainable future for America – persisting to reject driving the biofuels initiative through to auto makers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has calculated that today’s cars, which currently run on a blend of 10 percent ethanol (“E10”) and 90 percent gasoline, can only make use of 14.8 billion gallons of those biofuels annually – a limit known as the “E10 Blend Wall”. Unless the auto industry alters their products to perform using biofuels, there will be no way for eco-conscious motorists to employ the copious, greener fuel for use in their automobiles – a perplexing fact seeing as most Americans prefer energy alternatives over a cure for cancer (SOURCE: Fairfax County Economic Development poll). To add, the biofuels being generated under the altered RFS2 initiative will most likely remain unsold because of this obstructive stance by auto makers and congressmen alike. The EPA has been actively working to uncover solutions so that these fuels may be put to use, such as exploring whether standard cars can run on E 15 and eventually E 20. However, operating automobiles on these advanced blends will not possibly expend the 36 billion gallons of biofuels (15 billion gallons of ethanol and 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels) that the RFS2 requires.

Restraining advanced biofuels from making their way to the market is an existing congressional mandate, which is currently missing a counterpart requirement directed to auto makers that they manufacture and sell cars that can run on higher blends of biofuels including E 85, and a mandate that gasoline station owners establish the infrastructure (tanks and pumps) for its distribution. Those that deem non-petroleum liquid fuels (biofuels and other synthetic liquid fuels) the least expensive and most consistent form of renewable energy stand for the Open Fuel Standard bill (HR 1476 and S 835), which would require auto manufacturers to generate “flexible fuel” vehicles capable of running on a blend of gasoline, E 85 and M 85 (85 percent methanol) or on biodiesel. In fact, experts state that it would cost less than $100 a car to make the switch, and, by 2022, would place 177 million cars on the road capable of running on biofuels. Although the solution seems simple to those of us that own an automobile, auto companies don’t see on the same level as they have heavy-lined pockets to worry about. The bold manufacturers argue that Congress should leave it to the “free market” instead of instructing them about what sort of cars they should build – despite accepting bailouts in the form of billions of taxpayer dollars. As of now, the biofuels mandate is in place, and the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a version of the Open Fuel Standard bill in its Climate bill – however S 835 remains under wraps in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. One hopes the committee realizes the significance of this bill and what it means for the future of America, as the nation unwittingly faces an approaching dilemma once billions of gallons of the renewable fuel is produced, but cannot be used.

To contact your senators TODAY regarding Commerce Committee action on S 835, visit Americans United for Energy Independence.