(09/06/07) Senators to Begin Work on Energy Measure

It has been reported in the Housten Chronicle, that With consumers continuing to grumble about high gasoline prices, the Senate plans to take up an energy conservation package next week that would force automakers to churn out more fuel-efficient cars and require motorists to use more renewable fuels.

The bill also would require Americans use 36 billion gallons worth of renewable fuels such as ethanol by 2022.

That's an ambitious goal. Americans consume 6.3 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol annually, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, along with about 250 million gallons of biodiesel made from vegetable oil, the National Biodiesel Board reports.

Proposals to mandate greater use of ethanol have always been popular on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers from farming states try to give a hand to constituents.

But the Senate proposal would also try to force technological innovation by requiring that 21 billion gallons of the new, renewable fuels come from "advanced biofuels," such as "cellulosic" ethanol made from switch grass and corn stalks.

 

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