Energy Policy Act of 2005

ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005 -- (Senate - June 28, 2005)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, as we consider the possibilities and challenges that face our great Nation and the tremendous dependence we have on foreign sources of oil, every effort to reduce that dependence becomes a key point for consideration by the Congress. In addition, the growing demand for oil by China and India only intensifies the need for action. We must become less reliant on foreign sources of oil and natural gas from unstable parts of the world.

I have been made aware that by reducing fuel consumption in the aviation sector through implementation of an idle reduction technology we would see fuel reductions in excess of 90 million barrels of petroleum each year after full implementation.

Implementing this type of technology would also greatly reduce the associated mobile source emissions greatly benefiting our metropolitan areas facing EPA nonattainment and the losses associated this categorization. The airline industry and the general public would also benefit from such technology through reduced costs and environmental improvements.

According to DOT, expenses for U.S. commercial airlines, fuel and oil expenses were equal to those of labor which has historically been the single largest expense for the carriers. By reducing the amount of fuel required through idle reduction technology, the U.S. commercial airlines could save well over $4 billion in fuel costs at today's fuel prices, a large percentage of the estimated losses for this year.

Applying innovative technology applications in this manner will assist in reducing our overall dependence on foreign oil while providing other benefits as well.

The Energy bill that has passed today includes support for research and development for optimizing fuel efficiency for commercial aircrafts. This is an important step in the right direction for America's energy future.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about an important innovative in manufacturing related to America's needs for clean, reliable, and affordable energy that is important for national security, American jobs, and our competitiveness in the global marketplace.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, we are fortunate to have a competitive manufacturing industry representing several sectors from pharmaceuticals to fire safety to paper products to refining. Virginia is also fortunate to have a strong base of smaller, progressive companies that are producing products that help America achieve cleaner air standards and decrease our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

One such company advancing these priorities is Afton Chemical located in Richmond, VA. Founded in 1921, Afton is a full-service global petroleum additives supplier. It has a strong commitment to innovative technology and world-class research. It operates a state-of-the-art research facility in Richmond and a European research and test facility in Bracknell, Berkshire, England. It has manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Afton develops, manufactures, blends, and delivers chemical additives that enhance the performance of petroleum products. One of these additives, MMT, is an organic-based fuel additive designed to boost octane levels in gasoline. MMT is used commercially in the United States and throughout the world. The product is added into fuel at very small concentrations.

MMT provides refiners with an economical octane improver. MMT achieves emission reductions by lessening the degree to which a barrel of crude oil has to be processed to make a gallon of gasoline. Because less refining is needed, fewer emissions are emitted to the air. Those fewer emissions include greenhouse gas emissions. Because less refining per barrel of crude is needed, a barrel of oil goes a lot further; thereby increasing refinery capacity.

In fact, refinery studies have shown that MMT, if used in all gasoline in the United States, would save up to 30 million barrels a year of crude oil, reducing our dependence on foreign oil. At today's crude oil prices, that is nearly $2 billion per year. Because refiners using MMT operate under less severe conditions, refinery emissions of greenhouse gases can also be reduced by millions of tons per year.

Now, more than ever, with high gasoline prices and greater dependence on foreign oil from unstable countries, we need products that help conserve oil and result in more efficient refining of oil. Afton Chemical has made production of cleaner burning fuel additives a priority. And because of their efforts in this area, I applaud their efforts in increasing energy efficiencies.

I am proud of all the companies in Virginia, like Afton, that are innovating to find solutions for more efficient, cleaner burning, and less toxic fuels for America's energy needs. Whether these companies are producing MMT or biodiesel made from home-grown Virginia soybeans, innovators from the Commonwealth are creating energy solutions to strengthen our national security, create new jobs and save current ones and most importantly, increase our competitiveness in the global marketplace.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov