Senate proposal would require 50% of US cars to have flexible fuel system by 2012

Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota.), Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Ken Salazar (D-Colorado), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Connecticut) introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act (PDF) yesterday.

The Act would require 50% of all new vehicles sold in the United States to have a flexible fuel system by 2012, and 80% of all new vehicles to have the system by 2015.

Flexible fuel vehicles are able to switch among a variety of fuels, primarily gasoline and ethanol. Hwever, the bill encourages and covers all types of potential alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, switchgrass and other energy crops, coal, agricultural bi-products, corn, soybeans, natural gas and other materials

The goal of this bill is to break the OPEC "stranglehold" on available fuel and fuel pricing.

"In Kansas, and across the nation, people are concerned about the rising price of gasoline," said Brownback. "Today, I was pleased to join a tri-partisan group of senators to introduce the Open Fuel Standard Act. This legislation will reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and will increase consumers' options when it comes to fuel."

It's also intended to provide American consumers with greater fuel choices and flexibility to purchase the best priced fuel.

"This legislation gives Americans a choice at the pump by making fuel flexibility a standard feature of the majority of cars and trucks produced in the United States," said Senator Salazar. "In doing so, we will protect consumers from soaring gas prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and spur the further development of renewable fuel technologies that are central to our energy future. As our presence here today demonstrates, setting America on a path of energy independence is an effort that transcends party lines. We must all work together to make this vision of energy independence a reality."

According to Waste News, Thune said that recently, Congress has enacted several policies that have expanded the production of renewable fuel. By 2022, renewable fuel will constitute approximately one-fourth of America´s fuel supply. However, without more flex fuel vehicles, E-85 pumps, and ethanol-dedicated pipelines, the full potential of renewable fuel is greatly limited, Thune said.

Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Isuzu, Mazda, Mercedes, Mercury, and Nissan all currently offer flexible fuel and E85 compatible vehicles. For more information or to see if your car is E85 compatible, click here.

Julie Pippert, of Using My Words and Moms Speak Up, is saddened to not see her beloved Forester on the list of E85 compatible vehicles.

Comments

[deb]

dude, Jules, this is a kick-ass post. thanks. :)

[jaelithe]

Does this percentage requirement only apply to internal combustion vehicles?

Because I think this is a great idea, but I'd hate to see all-electric plug-ins pushed aside because the legislation failed to accommodate them as well.

[Julie Pippert]

Great Q, J. Mine was: hmm, intriguing direction for legislation. Car manufacturers keeps dismissing other types of alt power for vehicles because it's not economically feasible. Is this one more so? And if so, has it excluded other power alternatives to pursue a fuel-powered car? Good Qs. I'll try to follow up later. I have a press office contact. Right now I am railing on the Obama campaign Hispanic strategy.

[Dawn]

This is exciting!

I am concerned by the push towards ethanol when everything that I've read shows it to be equally as bad for the environment as fossil fuels, if not worse. But I'm glad that this legislation doesn't limit the potential and merely takes steps to disengage us from our dependency on OPEC. I applaud that it's only 4 years out, I really hope that this goes through!