The newly installed 110th Congress jumped into Biofuels legislation last Friday, according to a report on ICIS news
(Disclosure: I work for ICIS. About ICIS)
The story by Judith Taylor says
In the Senate, sponsors launched the Biofuels Security Act of 2007, legislation aimed at boosting US consumption of ethanol and biodiesel to 60bn gallons by 2030. The US currently produces about 5.4bn gal/year of corn-based ethanol.
That's going to be an unsustainable amount of ethanol from corn and a clear indication that other sources, such as celluosic ethanol will be expected to fill the gap.
Big Oil has its doubts... According to Judith
the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) said it would not support the Biofuels Security Act, noting that while the bill would require major oil companies to carry E-85 fuel (85% ethanol blended with 15% gasoline) at half their service stations nationwide, there is not nearly enough ethanol or adequate infrastructure to make that policy work.
If the biofuels industry is going to make any difference, it will have to get this key group of people -- with access to the market onside pretty sharpish.
In the House of Representatives, sponsors of the Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act want permanent status for existing ethanol and biodiesel tax credits and incentive programmes, according to National Biodiesel Board. Biodiesel producers said support for permanent status for the $1/gal biodiesel tax credit - scheduled to expire in 2008 - is welcomed. Other industry participants said legislation promoting greater use of biodiesel in meeting the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard would further boost that fuel.