FFVs can use both regular gasoline and E-85 renewable fuel (motor fuel
with 85 percent ethanol content). This capability would ensure access to
an important alternative to foreign petroleum in the future as the
nation's renewable fuels industry continues to expand rapidly.
"Flexible Fuel Vehicles play an important role in increasing our use of
renewable fuels and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. America's
insatiable appetite for oil places our nation in a precarious situation of
reliability on regions that have become increasingly hostile to us," Lugar
said. "This bill would complement the exciting advances in the energy bill
that Congress passed earlier this year that more than doubled the
production and use of domestic renewable fuels. Passage of this
legislation would send an important signal to the market that renewable
fuels...will be fully embraced by our nation."
The bill would require 10 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. be FFVs
within 18 months of passage. The requirement would increase by 10 percent
for each subsequent model year resulting in all new vehicles being FFVs
within ten years.
"In July, I visited Terre Haute to congratulate Indiana's first E-85 fuel
station. Since then I have watched as numerous stations across the state
have joined the movement and more are in the planning stages. With high
oil prices, ethanol is becoming increasingly attractive. It is exciting
that Hoosiers are growing the feedstocks for these fuels every year,"
Lugar added.
Earlier this year, Lugar led 21 bipartisan Senators in introducing the
Fuels Security Act to more than double the production and use of domestic
renewable fuels including ethanol, biodiesel and fuels produced from
cellulosic biomass. This legislation laid the groundwork for the renewable
fuels section of the energy bill that passed the Congress in July 2005.
As former chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee,
Lugar initiated a biofuels research program to help decrease U.S.
dependency on foreign oil. In a time of relatively low fuel prices, he
co-authored "The New Petroleum" in Foreign Affairs with former CIA
Director James Woolsey extolling the need to accelerate the use of
ethanol, especially that derived from cellulose. He authored and passed
the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, which remains the
nation's premier legislation guiding renewable fuels research. Lugar also
has co-authored and supported legislation to dramatically increase the use
of renewable fuels in all U.S. vehicles.
Courtesy of Targetednews.com