WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new bill introduced by Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) and Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) to increase the number of Flex Fuel vehicles on the road will help the United States secure its energy independence while giving consumers a choice at the pump, according to Growth Energy, the leading voice for U.S. ethanol supporters.
“In these tough economic times, we need a national energy policy that creates jobs in the United States, improves our environment and strengthens our national security by reducing our reliance on foreign oil,” said CEO Tom Buis. “Legislation that requires automakers to produce Flex Fuel vehicles would lower costs at the pump and create thousands of good-paying green collar jobs by giving consumers a choice in their fuels that includes affordable, homegrown ethanol.”
Today, almost nine million vehicles on U.S. highways are flexible fuel vehicles, out of over 248 million vehicles on the road. The “Open Fuel Standard Act,” calls for a gradual increase in the number of American cars operating on “flex fuels” or other sources of energy. This commitment will help ensure that we meet Congress’ goal of 36 billion gallons of biofuel production by 2022 as enacted in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, Buis said.
“If we are truly going to meet our nation’s renewable fuel goals and substantially reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need to invest in policies like these that will bring our entire vehicle fleet up to modern engine standards, and open the market to more ethanol.”
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now.