5/31/2005
HARKIN PRAISES SENATE ACTION DOUBLING RENEWABLES IN FUEL SUPPLY
Washington, DC — Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) believes that
Congress needs to work together to lower the gas and fuel prices that
strain the family budgets of hardworking Americans. A recent study by
the Consumer Federation of America found that gasoline could be as much
as eight cents a gallon cheaper if ethanol were used more in the fuel
supply.
As the Ranking Democratic Member of the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Tom Harkin aggressively advocates
adding more renewable fuels into the nation’s fuel supply. Senator Tom
Harkin praised adoption of an amendment to the Senate energy bill today
to more than double the use of ethanol over the next seven years. The
amendment establishing a renewable fuels standard (RFS), ensuring at
least eight billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel a year in the fuel
supply by 2012. Harkin first called for this standard in the “Fuels
Security Act of 2005,” introduced earlier this year.
“This is great news for America’s consumers, farmers and rural
communities,” said Harkin. “Renewable fuels promise to help lower fuel
prices, reduce our energy dependence, stimulate the rural economy and
improve our environment. If we are truly committed to promoting
home-grown fuels, this eight billion gallon mark is badly needed and
should remain part of any energy bill passed by Congress.”
The House energy bill contains an RFS of only five billion
gallons a year, three billion less than the amendment passed today.
Expected production of renewable fuels will already reach four billion
gallons this year. Senator Harkin’s continued hard work in the Senate
ensures that Iowa’s farmers are a part of the solution to America’s
fuel crisis.
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