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Feb. 22, 2011 Source: 25x'25 news release 25x'25 today expressed its strong objection to the House of Representative's misguided vote to block funding of EPA's implementation of the increase in ethanol blend in the nation's gasoline supply from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15). The anti-biofuels amendment was approved as part of a continuing resolution adopted by the House late last week to fund the government through the remainder of this fiscal year ending Sept. 30. "In a rush to make budget cuts, the House adopted an amendment that effectively overturns EPA's previous decision to allow for increased use of renewable, homegrown biofuels - a policy decision that was based on sound science," said 25x'25 Alliance Co-Chair Read Smith. "This is a wrong-headed vote because any concerns about any impact of higher ethanol blends have been answered," said Smith, who is also a former President of the National Association of Conservation Districts. "The vote also negatively impact's the nation's economy, our balance of payments and public health by further increasing our dependence on oil and exposure to toxic emissions associated with gasoline production and use." Retired Vice Admiral Denny McGinn, another 25x'25 Steering Committee member and a former commander of the Navy's Third Fleet, said the House vote against the U.S. biofuels industry jeopardizes the nation's national security. "This move would greatly reduce the availability of a viable domestic supply of transportation fuels and continue to feed our national addiction to foreign oil. In a nation rightly concerned about the U.S. economy and jobs, we need to start reducing the outflow of more than $1 billion petrodollars each day to nations and regimes overseas, many hostile to the United States," McGinn said. "The cost of our dependence on oversea supplies of oil goes far beyond the pump price of a gallon of gas," McGinn said. "The military costs required to protect our oil transportation lanes places a heavy premium on the petroleum we use in this country. And ultimately, any policy that increases our dependence on foreign oil will cost us dearly and greatly risks more U.S. military casualties." "Fortunately, the Senate will have the opportunity to address this irrational decision when they take up their version of a continuing resolution after the President's Day recess," said Smith. "Our strongest hope is that the recess will give stakeholders the chance to inform lawmakers of the need for an expanded biofuel supply in the interests of public health and national security, and that lawmakers on both sides of Capitol Hill will work in a bipartisan manner to reverse this disastrous course of increased oil dependence," he said. For more information, contact Ernie Shea, 25x'25 Project Coordinator, at 410-952-0123, or e-mail at EShea@25x25.org. About 25x'25 25x'25 is a diverse alliance of agricultural, forestry, environmental, conservation and other organizations and businesses that are working collaboratively to advance the goal of securing 25 percent of the nation's energy needs from renewable sources by the year 2025. 25x'25 is led by a national steering committee composed of volunteer leaders. The 25x'25 goal has been endorsed by nearly 1,000 partners, 33 current and former governors, 15 state legislatures and the U.S. Congress through The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. 25x'25 is a special project of the Energy Future Coalition (EFC). The EFC is a broad-based non-partisan public policy initiative that seeks to bring about change in U.S. energy policy to address overarching challenges related to the production and use of energy. Tweet |
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