Martinez: Biofuels Act will Expand Renewable Fuel Sources

Press Release

MARTINEZ: BIOFUELS ACT WILL EXPAND RENEWABLE FUEL SOURCES

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), today cosponsored the Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007, introduced by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pete Domenici (R-NM). This legislation builds on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to create new renewable fuel standards and expand their usage in America over the next two decades.

"This is an important step in developing and producing alternative sources of energy to meet the needs of Americans," Martinez said. "It will help our nation become less dependent on foreign oil and promote national energy security."

The bill will greatly expand the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) established in the 2005 Energy Bill that doubled ethanol production, to increase the ethanol mandate to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

In addition, S. 987 includes significant increases in funding for alternative energy research and development as well as targeted funding and studies to improve the distribution system for biofuels. According to a study performed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer services, Florida ranks first nationally in the potential of biomass ethanol production.

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