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For Immediate Release
May 12, 2006 |
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LETTER TO HOUSE ENERGY AND WATER CHAIRMAN DAVID HOBSON IN SUPPORT OF EXPANSION OF ETHANOL AND BIOFUELS PRODUCTION |
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As you begin deliberations on the FY 2007 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to provide $213 million for the Department of Energy Biomass Program - Biomass and Biorefinery Systems Research and Development (the full-authorized amount under the Energy Policy Act of 2006).
The nation is at a crossroads in dealing with energy security. If we are to end the trend of unsustainable dependence on imported oil and the resulting massive transfer of our nation's wealth to unstable regimes, we must act decisively to diversify our transportation fuel system. We believe an important and cost-effective part of the near-term solution is significant expansion of ethanol and biofuels production.
The Department of Energy Biomass and Biorefinery Systems Research and Development program is widely supported by biofuels experts, environmental advocates, industry, most of the nations governors, and more recently the President. While we support the President's proposed increases for the program, the request does not fully reflect the serious energy security situation before us.
According to the 33-state, bipartisan Governors' Ethanol Coalition, a number of industry leaders and energy experts believe we can meet 10 percent of our transportation fuel needs from cost-effective, domestically produced biofuels in six years, if we provide the resources needed to overcome remaining research and demonstration hurdles. A 10 percent biofuel addition to our fuel supply would have a dramatic impact because of its contribution to curbing anticipated increasing world oil demand - particularly when combined with emerging hybrid flex-fuel vehicles.
Moreover, this level of domestic production far exceeds the impact that any other cost-effective federal program or regulatory action can have on oil imports in the same period of time. Ethanol expansion is a rapid and lasting means to address the crosscutting national security issue of reducing our dependence on imported oil.
Finally, funding for this vital program will promote the geographic diversification of energy supplies, increase consumer choice and market flexibility, and reduce energy costs facing consumers. Expanded domestic production of ethanol and biofuels from a variety of sources including corn, corn stover, grasses, forest waste, sugar cane and other biomass feedstocks, helps our states and communities in their efforts to spur economic development, improve energy security, enhance environmental quality and address the impact of persistently high energy prices.
The requested $213 million is a modest investment for an energy production R&D program poised to allow an emerging industry to deliver a substantial portion of the nation's transportation fuel from renewable domestic resources.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.
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