Feenstra Introduces Three Bills to Advance Biofuels Research and Stop President Biden’s Hasty Transition to Electric Vehicles
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced three pieces of legislation to pump the breaks on President Biden’s reckless subsidization of the electric vehicle industry, research the potential of biofuels to power jet engines, and develop a commercially viable fuel cell system for cars and trucks powered exclusively by biofuels. Feenstra first introduced these three bills in the 117th Congress.
“In Iowa, every other row of corn and soybeans produces low-cost, low-carbon ethanol and biodiesel. As a result, the vitality of our rural economy relies on a strong biofuels industry and a thriving agricultural sector. These three bills will support both,” said Rep. Feenstra. “As the top-producing congressional district of ethanol and biodiesel, I am proud to introduce three bills that will pump the breaks on President Biden’s out-of-touch electric vehicle agenda, advance biofuels research, and make the impossible in energy production – possible.”
“Iowa Corn is always working towards expanding and protecting the biofuels industry, as it is a major source of corn grind within the state,” said Denny Friest, President of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. “We can’t thank Congressman Feenstra enough for his support as we can continue to increase the demand for affordable, homegrown, cleaner-burning fuel at the pump.”
“There is no doubt in our mind that over the next decade low carbon biofuels will out preform electric vehicles if judged by sound science. Unfortunately, we repeatedly see policy makers put their fingers on the scales,” said Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. “Rep. Feenstra’s biofuels bills will help ensure the competition is on a level, scientifically-based playing field. Hailing from the most renewable congressional district in the country, Rep. Feenstra has quickly established himself as a leader for renewable fuels in Congress. IRFA members thank Rep. Feenstra for his constant efforts to promote home-grown, lower-cost biofuels.”
“Green Plains applauds Congressman Feenstra for his continued support of Iowa agriculture and our ever-evolving bio-economy,” said Todd Becker, President and CEO of Green Plains Inc. “As Green Plains transforms our biorefinery platform, new markets, such as alcohol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel, are key for our low-carbon ethanol. The Biojet Fuel Research Act can help spur the advancement of these innovative technologies and keep Iowa at the forefront of the transportation fuel revolution.”
“Each of these bills would bolster the innovation that’s already taking place at bioprocessing facilities around the country. The U.S. ethanol industry is laser focused on investing in new technologies and new products, all with an eye toward lowering carbon emissions and decarbonizing the transportation sector. Rep. Feenstra’s proposals would focus the federal government’s attention on the same efforts with the same goals. We applaud the introduction of each of these bills and hope to see them quickly taken up and moved forward with bipartisan support,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy.
Feenstra’s three bills are as follows:
- The Comparison of Sustainable Transportation (COST) Actwould direct the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Secretary of Energy to compare the financial and environmental costs between replacing the entire federal gasoline-powered fleet with either electric vehicles or E-85 capable flex-fuel cars and trucks.
- The Biojet Fuel Research Actwould direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a working group focused on identifying research and development needs to produce biojet fuel. The working group would consist of the Bioenergy Technologies Office of the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, biorefinery stakeholders, agriculture research universities, and others.
- The Biofuel Cell Research Actwould direct the Secretary of the Department of Energy to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for a commercially viable fuel cell system that uses biofuels as the main fuel source.
Even President Biden himself admitted during his State of the Union address that the United States would still be reliant on traditional fuels for decades. In fact, his own Department of Energy projects that four out of five new vehicles sold in the United States by 2050 will be powered by liquid fuel.
Last summer, Feenstra penned an op-ed in The Hill outlining his opposition to the Biden Administration’s unrealistic and forced electric vehicle agenda.
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