Congressman Jack Kingston - First District of Georgia

Today, the House passed H.R. 6 – the Energy Independence and Security Act – by a vote of 314-100.  The bill contained several provisions of the DRIVE (Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy) Act which was introduced by Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA/01) and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) earlier this year.

“With gas prices still hovering near $3 a gallon and a barrel of oil almost $90; it’s time we get serious about reducing our reliance on foreign oil,” Kingston said.  “This energy bill contains several provisions of the DRIVE Act which Congressman Engel and I introduced this Congress.  The Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Program promotes electric drive and hybrid technologies through grant and education programs.  These technologies can save fuel costs for both consumers and businesses while decreasing our dependence on imported oil.”

The Following Drive Act Provisions Were Included In H.R. 6:

1) PHEV and other Advanced Drive Transportation Technologies.  H.R. 6 establishes a PIEDVP that would focus on ways to help automakers bring electric drive technology to the market with the sole purpose of reducing our depending on oil.

• Electric Drive Education Program - would establish within the Department of Energy a nationwide Education Program for electric drive transportation technology.  The program would provide curricula for all educational levels on electric drive transportation, as well as financial assistance to create new university-level degree programs for needed engineers.  Such efforts are critical to keeping the US competitive in this area.  There is a significant shortage of engineers and scientists with the needed skills sets.  . 

• Fleet Acquisition Program –This provision updates the fleet program so that when government agencies purchases cars, they will be able to choose electric transportation technologies, including hybrid electric vehicles. 

2) Renewable Fuel Standard - The bill requires the annual use of a certain volume of renewable fuels in transportation fuel, which would be 15.2 billion gallons in 2012 and 36 billion in 2022.  This will provide a pathway for reduced consumer fuel prices, increased energy security, and growth in our nation’s factories and farms.  The DRIVE Act has a similar provision. 

The goal of the DRIVE Act is to strengthen our economic and national security by reducing our dependence on imported oil.  The bill would help America realize its fuel independence by 2015 by setting aggressive, achievable goals for oil savings, speeding entry of the 21st Century vehicles to the public, and embracing new, clean fuel choices and bringing them to the market faster.

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