Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act

Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Time: 01:00 AM Location: Washington, D.C.

Opening Statement By Chairman Nick Lampson

Good afternoon. This is the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of our Members. Rep. Inglis, I look forward to working with you over the next two years.

Our hearing this afternoon is on H.R. 547, The Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act, introduced by Chairman Gordon.

Energy is on everyone’s mind these days. The price of fuels has been rising and awareness of the extent to which we are dependent upon foreign sources of oil has grown. At the same time, in an effort to reduce emissions of air pollution we are also transitioning to cleaner burning fuels.

The good news is that we have developed and are continuing to develop alternative fuels and cleaner burning versions of our current petroleum-based fuels. But it is not enough simply to develop these new alternatives. We also must ensure the availability of infrastructure and equipment for transporting, distributing, and utilizing these new fuels at a reasonable cost.

That is where H.R. 547 comes in. This bill authorizes research programs to address two specific issues. The first will seek cost-effective methods for making our current fuel distribution system compatible with biofuels. The second will initiate a program to develop less expensive, easier to use testing methods and equipment for verifying the sulfur level of fuels.

I understand from recent reports, that transition to new Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is going well. I believe several of our witnesses will speak to that effort briefly this afternoon.

I look forward to hearing the views of our panel of witnesses on H.R. 547, and I thank all of you for participating today.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - John Eichberger
Vice President National Association of Convenience Stores National Association of Convenience Stores
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2 - Bob Dinneen
President and CEO Renewable Fuels Association Renewable Fuels Association
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3 - Richard Kassel
Senior Attorney and Director Clean Fuels and Vehicles Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council Clean Fuels and Vehicles Project at the Natural Resources
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