[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 2 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE TEAM (TO ENCOURAGE ALTERNATIVELY-FUELED VEHICLE MANUFACTURING) UP 
                      FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 2007

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, climate change 
threatens the security and stability of our planet. The temperature of 
the earth is increasing at a rate unseen in modern times and is 
starting to melt the polar ice caps and disrupt weather patterns. 
Unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere by 
automobiles and industries, with about one-fourth of the world's carbon 
dioxide emissions being produced by the United States, have led to 
current rates of warming.
  Historically high gas prices and political instability in oil 
producing regions reinforce the need for the United States to secure 
our energy independence. We can make real progress by developing and 
distributing alternatively fueled vehicles. Through innovation and 
existing technology, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and 
promote energy efficiency and conservation to secure a safe future for 
our country and the environment.
  Alternatively fueled vehicles, such as those that use E85 ethanol 
fuel, could reduce our use of petroleum fuels by up to 40%, helping our 
country move towards sustainable energy independence. E85 ethanol fuel 
can be produced from agricultural products grown here in the United 
States, so that money spent on fuel supports farmers in the Midwest, 
not countries in the Middle East. Corn may not be the only answer to 
biofuels, as other sources of energy such as switchgrass or other 
renewable starch re-sources are also on the horizon.
  Congress must do more to make alternative fueled vehicles practical 
and accessible to every American. There are currently only six million 
E85-capable vehicles on U.S. roads, compared to approximately 230 
million gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles, according to the National 
Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. Only 993 fuel stations in the entire country 
currently provide E85 fuel, and only four of these are located in 
California.
  That is why I am again introducing this bill to encourage consumers 
and manufacturers to develop the infrastructure necessary for a cleaner 
energy future. We must do more to make alternatively fueled vehicles 
practical and accessible to everyone. The cost of producing flex fuel 
capable vehicles is minimal at the time of manufacture, but there are 
currently few incentives for the production of flex fuel vehicles and a 
lack of infrastructure to service them.
  My bill will encourage the production of more alternatively fueled 
vehicles by phasing in a tax penalty on the manufacture or import of 
new, non-flex fuel vehicles. However, since the cost to convert fleets 
to flex fuel is nearly nil, it will be easy for manufacturers or 
importers to avoid these costs completely. Any revenues generated would 
be used to help independent gas station owners install alternative fuel 
equipment.
  I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi for her hard work and dedication 
to increase investment in renewable energy and ultimately achieving 
energy independence. I hope this bill can be a part of the crucial 
national dialogue towards securing our energy independence and helping 
America move towards a more secure and sustainable future.

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