[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 131 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ENERGY POLICY ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Shimkus] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, in 1992, Congress passed the Energy Policy 
Act which set Federal requirements on the use of alternative fuel 
vehicles such as ethanol-powered cars. This legislation required 
Federal, State, and city fleets to use vehicles that are cleaner and 
better for our environment. This act listed fuels and vehicle types 
that can be used by fleet managers to comply with this act.
  Unfortunately, biodiesel was not one of the listed alternative fuels 
at the time because the industry was new, untested, unproven. However, 
today, that is not the case. As a result, I am introducing a bill, 
along with the gentlewoman from Missouri [Ms. McCarthy], to classify 
biodiesel as an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
  Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines derived 
from soybeans. Once biodiesel is classified as an alternative fuel 
under this bill, it will be used immediately in conventional diesel 
engines with no engine modifications needed. A few examples of the type 
of vehicles using this B-20 mix are heavy-duty fleet vehicles such as 
city buses, boats, and trucks.
  The diesel engines will use biodiesel in blends of 20 percent 
biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel, which is the most efficient, 
energy-efficient, and environmentally beneficial mix.

                              {time}  1230

  The use of biodiesel will help to save on capital expenditures as 
fleets will be able to modify and improve their existing vehicles, as 
opposed to purchasing completely new fleets.
  The production, sale, and use of biodiesel will create a new market 
for our farmers, and, in turn, boost our economy. Because it runs 
cleaner than regular diesel fuel, the use of biodiesel also means that 
fewer emissions, as an example, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and 
carbon monoxide, are released to our environment.
  By granting alternative fuel status to biodiesel this bill will 
promote economic development and energy security. Biodiesel means jobs 
and tax revenues for processing a greater portion of our domestic 
soybean oil in the United States.
  The emerging biodiesel market offers a stable, long-term market for 
efficiently produced domestic soybeans that will directly benefit 
American farmers. The use of domestic biodiesel also improves national 
energy security by displacing imported energy, such as foreign oil.
  It is important to note that this legislation does not create a tax 
break or a new Federal mandate. This bill will simply allow the 
biodiesel industry to compete in the alternative fuel market, giving 
fleet vehicle managers more flexibility in complying with the mandates 
required at the Federal level.
  The production, sale, and use of biodiesel is good for the 
environment, good for family farmers, good for the economy, and good 
for our energy security. As a Congressman from one of the largest 
agricultural producer States in the United States, creating new markets 
for our family farmers, helping the economy, and keeping our air clean 
is very important to me.
  In a time that we are looking for answers to environmental concerns, 
new markets for family farmers and a boost for the economy and energy 
security, biodiesel makes sense for everyone.

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