[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 75 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E990]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

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                               speech of

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1540) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes:

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise to express my concerns 
with repealing Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
through the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 
This provision of the NDAA would undermine Department of Defense 
efforts to reduce oil dependence and could cripple America's nascent 
algal biofuel industry.
  Our Armed Forces are making great progress to reduce their dependence 
on oil in a manner that promotes climate security. For example, the Air 
Force plans to procure 50 percent of its domestic aviation fuel from 
alternative sources by 2016. It has already developed the ``Green 
Hornet,'' a fighter jet that runs on algae-based biofuel. The Navy is 
in the process of deploying its ``Great Green Fleet,'' which will run 
entirely on alternative fuels and be operational by 2016.
  These improvements to national security parallel new economic 
opportunities for the biofuel industry. According to the Biotechnology 
Industry Association, ``Section 526 is helping low carbon fuels bridge 
the `valley of death' between development and commercialization,'' and 
is ``already helping the Air Force and Navy meet its alternative fuel 
goals.'' The domestic biofuels industry contributes 400,000 jobs and 
$53 billion to the American economy while supporting deployment of 
domestically-produced biofuels for our Armed Forces.
  We cannot abort this critical effort to help our military achieve 
energy independence. It is imperative that repeal of Section 526 be 
stricken from the National Defense Authorization Act before this 
legislation proceeds to the President for his signature.

 The Importance of Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security 
   Act of 2007 to the Continued Development and Commercialization of 
                           Advanced Biofuels


                                May 2011

     What Section 526 Does
       Prevents federal agencies from purchasing unconventional 
     fuels with higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional 
     fuels.
       Most relevant to the Department of Defense (DOD) because it 
     is the Nation's largest fuel purchaser and is leading federal 
     efforts to support, develop and commercialize domestic 
     alternative sources of fuel for military use.
       For instance, the U.S. Air Force intends to procure 50 
     percent of its domestic aviation fuel from alternative 
     sources by 2016.
       Also, the U.S. Navy plans to deploy a ``Great Green Fleet'' 
     by 2016, which will be entirely operated on alternative 
     fuels.
     Why Section 526 Is Important to the United States and to the 
         Advanced Biofuels Industry
       Section 526 is helping low carbon fuels bridge the ``valley 
     of death'' between development and commercialization by 
     preventing large, carbon intensive fossil fuel facilities 
     from crowding out their opportunities. Section 526 is 
     therefore already helping the Air Force and Navy meet its 
     alternative fuel goals and the country move toward greater 
     energy independence and security and create jobs.
       The domestic biofuels industry is now contributing more 
     than 400,000 jobs and $53 billion in new activity to the 
     Nation's economy. A recent report found that additional job 
     creation from advanced biofuels production could reach 
     807,000 by 2022.
       Since its enactment, Section 526 has provided a clear 
     signal that energy security and climate security will be 
     advanced in parallel to federal alternative fuel procurement. 
     This has helped to focus private investment and early DOD 
     testing on advanced biofuels, which offer substantial 
     greenhouse gas reductions in addition to their energy 
     security benefits.
       The prospects of a stable and long-term customer in the DOD 
     is a major driver of early investment in advanced biofuels 
     for aviation and marine applications. Eliminating Section 526 
     could seriously undermine this investment certainty, leading 
     to less and less investment and capital access for advanced 
     biofuels.
       Congress must maintain Section 526 to assure continued U.S. 
     leadership on biofuels, especially advanced and cellulosic 
     biofuels for aviation and other military applications.
     Advanced Biofuels Companies and Projects That Could Be 
         Negatively Affected if Section 526 Were Eliminated`
       The maps below illustrate existing and planned cellulosic 
     biofuel biorefineries and algae production projects at 
     various stages of development in North America.
       Currently, there are more than 70 pilot and demonstration 
     advanced biofuel biorefineries across North America--
     including cellulosic, algae, and other advanced biofuel 
     technologies--representing hundreds of millions of dollars in 
     investment.
       There have been successes at each stage of research and 
     development and all are in the process of scaling-up.
       Commercial development was slowed by the recession but is 
     regaining momentum as a result of supportive federal 
     programs, such as Section 526, and some thawing of capital 
     markets.
       Many of the facilities and projects shown may be negatively 
     impacted by the elimination of Section 526.

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