Subcommittee Examines Readiness of U.S. Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
In his first subcommittee hearing of the 110th Congress, House Committee on Science and Technology Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) led an examination of the country’s readiness to meet the demands of alternative fuels.
"Energy is on everyone’s mind these days," said Chairman Lampson. "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."
Today, the subcommittee examined H.R. 547, the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act. Members heard testimony from industry experts on infrastructure challenges currently hindering wide scale marketplace distribution of alternative fuels; and looked into the current limitations of testing equipment and protocols for verification of the sulfur content of diesel fuel. “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,” added Lampson. “We also must ensure the availability of infrastructure and equipment for transporting, distributing, and utilizing these new fuels at a reasonable cost.”
The bipartisan bill, introduced by Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), directs the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to initiate a research, development, and demonstration program to make alternative biobased fuels more compatible with present-day infrastructure. H.R. 547 also directs these agencies to develop technologies and methods to provide low-cost, portable, and accurate measurements of sulfur in fuels, and to develop a physical properties database and Standards Reference Materials for alternative fuels.
Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Inglis (R-SC) said, “I am pleased to see the Subcommittee addressing this legislation early in the Congress. The promise of fuels of the future to reduce our dependence on foreign oil is one that both Republicans and Democrats support. Americans don’t care which party gets the credit; they want to see solutions. H.R. 547 is an example of a clear step that will both improve energy security and help clean the air.”
Mr. John Eichberger, Vice President of the National Association of Convenience Stores, testified today that, “Clearly, compatibility between alternative fuels and existing infrastructure is a serious issue that can cost retailers thousands of dollars…This means a retailer must carefully evaluate the level of demand for E-85 in his operating market to determine if it makes business sense to dedicate a dispenser to sell the product.”
“If our country is serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we need to get serious about mobilizing the infrastructure necessary to distribute and dispense alternative fuels. H.R. 547 will help accomplish these goals using sound science and new technologies,” said the bill’s author, Chairman Gordon.
H.R. 547 has been endorsed by the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Association, National Association of Convenient Stores, Renewable Fuels Association, Petroleum Marketers Association of America, NATSO (representing travel plaza and truckstop owners and operators) and the Coalition of E85 Retailers.
This bill was originally introduced in the 109th Congress as H.R. 5658. The language from H.R. 5658 was included as Section 17 of H.R. 5656 – the Energy Research, Development, Demonstration and Commercial Application Act of 2006, which was later passed by the House under suspension of the rules as H.R. 6203.
Find more information on H.R 547 here.
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110-014
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