Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel gave his full support to President Barack Obama’s proposal for new fuel and emission standards for cars and trucks, which is designed to save 1.8 billion of barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years. These tough environmental standards include a 35.5 miles per gallon fuel efficiency standard.

“The logical next step would be to provide for alternate fuel options as outlined in my Open Fuel Standard Act. When I met with President Obama at the White House last week, he told me he agreed with the philosophy of my proposed Open Fuel Standard legislation. My legislation requires flex fuel vehicles make up half of new automobiles by 2012, and 80% in 2015. I have been working to include these changes in the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I consider this requirement to be a key tool to free America from its addiction to foreign oil,” said Rep. Engel.

Flex fuel vehicles operate on gasoline, ethanol, and methanol, or biodiesel Alcohol fuels such as ethanol and methanol can be made from a wide variety of domestic energy resources including agricultural waste, energy crops, natural gas, coal, and trash. The CEOs of the Big Three auto companies have repeatedly stated their willingness to commit to making 50% of new cars flex fuel vehicles by 2012.

The President’s plan would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil through 2016, comparable to taking 177 million cars off the road over the next six and a half years. New vehicles would be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by the end of the program.

“The President sees an opportunity to not only improve our environment and our national security, but also to revolutionize our auto industry at a time when it is teetering on the brink. By using this situation to require a more fuel efficient fleet of cars from American automakers, we can help the auto industry thrive, while doing our part to reverse the advance of global warming,” said Rep. Engel.

“I join with the President in making improvements to our automobile fleet a priority and I am encouraged by this step. The logical next step would be to provide for alternate fuel options as outlined in my Open Fuel Standard Act, to accompany the new emissions standards. I intend to continue pursuing this important legislation,” added Rep. Engel.