Washington, D.C. - As citizens  struggle daily with the price of a gallon of  gasoline,  U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-IL, voted with the majority of the U.S. House today in passing a comprehensive piece of energy legislation that outlines an array of strategies that together can significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Most significantly for Illinois, Rep. Johnson said, is a provision requiring refiners to use five billion gallons of corn-based ethanol a year by 2012, some 20 percent more than the industry will produce this year.  "That's still not enough but we're headed in the right direction," said Johnson. "We have the technological capability, the motivation and certainly enough corn to make ethanol a standard currency for our cars."

The ethanol measure alone is expected to lower the trade deficit by over $4 billion by 2011, create more than 13,000 ethanol-related jobs and increase net farm income by $700 million by 2011, according to the National Corn Growers Association.  One ethanol plant alone will expand the economic base of the local economy by $110.2 million, generate an additional $19.6 million in household income and support the creation of as many as 694 permanent new jobs throughout the economy.

In Illinois, there are 11 new plans proposed.  Also in the energy bill is $2.9 billion for fossil energy research to ensure more efficient exploration and development of oil, gas and coal, while decreasing the environmental impact of fossil energy exploitation.  Separately, $1.8 billion is set aside for the Clean Coal Power Initiative that will in part aid in making Illinois high-sulfur coal more marketable.  Another key provision earmarks $2.7 billion for nuclear energy research and infrastructure support, including development of safe uses for spent nuclear fuel,  security of nuclear facilities and support for university nuclear science and engineering programs.

Rep. Johnson said other clean environment highlights of the legislation include the $2 billion program to help get hydrogen fuel cell cars on the road by 2020, and an array of incentives for renewable energy companies to produce electricity from alternative sources such as wind, solar, biomass and others. The bill passed Thursday is the fourth version of energy legislation passed by the House since President Bush sent his National Energy Plan to Congress in 2001. Rep. Johnson said he believes it is possible to improve the legislation more in the areas of investments in conservation and renewable energy in particular.

Rep. Johnson is supportive, for example, of efforts to increase mandatory ethanol production even more, and of higher fuel-efficiency standards. Rep. Johnson also was supportive of efforts to spare the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil exploration but an amendment to do so failed narrowly.

Further, Rep. Johnson voted to strike liability protections in the bill that exempt producers of Methyl Teryl Butyl Ether (MTBE) from responsibility in the contamination of groundwater caused by MTBE.  "There are many positive initiatives in this bill. Our economy and our environment will benefit. But can we do better? Yes we can and we will continue to work with the Senate toward that end," Rep. Johnson said.

                                                               ###