WASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy expressed support today for the Open Fuel Standard (OFS) Act (HR 1687) recently introduced by Reps. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) and Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), which will increase the number of Flex Fuel vehicles on the road and help the United States secure its energy independence while giving consumers a choice at the pump.
“If we truly want to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create good-paying U.S. jobs and improve our environment, we need to ensure that our entire vehicle fleet is ready to use clean, renewable fuels like ethanol. Each additional Flex Fuel vehicle on the road gives consumers a choice in their fuels, while lowering the price at the pump and strengthening our energy security,” said Growth Energy President Jim Nussle.
Today, almost nine million vehicles on U.S. highways are flexible fuel vehicles, out of more than 249 million vehicles on the road. The OFS Act calls for a gradual increase in the number of American cars operating on “flex fuels” or other sources of energy, by requiring that 50 percent of new automobiles in 2014, 80 percent in 2016, and 95 percent in 2017, would be warranted to operate on nonpetroleum fuels in addition to or instead of petroleum based fuels.
“Our nation’s dependence on foreign oil is unsustainable and is hurting our economy and national security. It’s time to invest in smart policies like these that will create competition in the fuels market and break the stronghold that oil companies and Middle East cartels have on our nation,” said Nussle.
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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. Learn more at growthenergy.org.