U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
Growing Renewable Fuels to Keep
America Going
Contact: Jennifer
Wood, (202) 564-4355 / wood.jennifer@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - Oct. 26, 2006) Promoting the environmental benefits of
renewable fuels is the focus of the new SmartWay Grow & Go program, launched
today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Expanding the
successful SmartWay Transport Partnership, SmartWay Grow & Go companies are
encouraged to make commitments toward improving the environment through the use
of renewable fuels.
"Through SmartWay Grow & Go, President Bush is moving the fuels of the future
into the market today," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By investing
in technology that unlocks the energy from our domestic crops, EPA and our
partners are bringing breakthroughs in renewable fuel from the labs to the
streets."
The goal of the SmartWay Grow & Go program is to have 25 percent of EPA's
SmartWay Transport partners using renewable fuels by 2012, and 50 percent by
2020. There are currently 481 SmartWay Transport partners including major truck
and rail carriers as well as shipping and logistics companies.
Leading SmartWay partners are already taking action. For example, H-E-B and
Meijer are expanding the sale of renewable fuels at their retail pumps, while
Coca-Cola Enterprises' light and heavy duty fleets are expanding their use of
ethanol and biodiesel as these fuels become more widely available.
Renewable fuels are available today and provide environmental benefits. Ethanol
reduces emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and benzene, a known
human carcinogen, and biodiesel provides significant reductions in carbon
monoxide, particulate matter and sulfates. Use of ethanol and biodiesel results
in less greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional gasoline.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the SmartWay Grow & Go program
supports President Bush's national energy initiative to increase domestic energy
supplies, encourage efficiency and conservation, and develop alternative and
renewable sources of energy. The growth of renewable fuels presents an important
opportunity for rural America by providing new revenue and job opportunities.
From bushels to barrels, farming communities will be helping to power our cars
and protect the nation's environment.
Since 2001, the Bush Administration has provided $10 billion to support the
development of cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy sources paving the way
for significant advances. In addition, the President Bush's Advanced Energy
Initiative requests a 65 percent increase in research and development funding in
FY2007 for biomass and biorefinery efforts moving the fuels of the future into
the market today.
For additional information, visit the Grow & Go Web site:
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/growandgo/
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