Kucinich/Kaptur Alternative Fuel Amendment Included in Energy Bill
Washington,
Jul 28, 2005 -
Included in HR 6, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, passed today in the House, was an amendment authored by Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) to double the number of Department of Energy Clean City programs that can apply for a pilot program to invest in alternative fuel vehicles.
Today, with passage of the Kucinich/Kaptur amendment the number of project grants will double from 15 to 30 for state governments, local governments, and metropolitan transportation authorities.
“This amendment will ensure more cities benefit from alternative fuel vehicles,” stated Kucinich. “Congresswoman Kaptur and I offered this amendment because we believe farmers and our urban centers can work together to eliminate our foreign dependency on oil. We believe northern Ohio can be used as a showcase for a sustainable energy system from farm to city,” continued Kucinich.
“This amendment will move America towards energy independence,” stated Kaptur. “We must replace imported petroleum with renewable energy that is made right here in the U.S.A. There are over 3 million vehicles on the road today that will run on fuels that contain up to 85 percent ethanol or 20 percent biodiesel. Consumers need places to buy the fuel that these vehicles already use. This amendment is a significant step in that direction.”
The Clean Cities Program is a voluntary effort, funded through the Department of Energy, to accelerate and expand the use of clean, domestic fuels and alternative fuel vehicles in communities throughout the country and develop the necessary infrastructure for their operation through public/private partnerships.
In Cleveland, the Earth Day Coalition has a Clean Fuels program funded by the Clean Cities program at the U.S. Department of Energy.
