Washington, D.C. - Aware of the U.S. dependence on foreign oil and high gas prices, Rep. Howard Berman is helping California work toward a more diverse fuel supply.

 

Today, Berman voted for H.R. 547, the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act, a bill designed to make biofuels, like E85 ethanol, easier to access and use. The bipartisan bill passed the House by a vote of [xx-xx].

 

"Providing consumers with diverse fuel choices is important for our economy and our environment," Berman said. "I voted for this bill because it will provide more fuel choices for consumers in the smartest most viable way possible."

 

H.R. 547 initiates a research and development program to make biofuels more compatible with present-day infrastructure. Many biofuels have different physical and chemical properties that make them incompatible with existing petroleum-based infrastructure. As a result, tank and pipeline corrosion, sediment buildup and/or clogged filters are among the issues that can arise.

 

The bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to research and develop new technologies that would allow retailers to offer biofuels using existing infrastructure, rather than refurbishing or building new infrastructure - essentially, putting the fuel in consumers' tanks at a savings to both retailers and consumers.

 

"This bill saves fuel distributors and retailers from the extremely high costs of updating infrastructure and ensures that weˇ¦ll be ready to handle these new fuels as theyˇ¦re integrated in the marketplace," said Berman.
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