Alternative Fuel Infrastructure

ALTERNATIVE FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE -- (Senate - July 28, 2006)

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleague from Colorado, Senator Salazar, to inform our colleagues of our efforts to expand the availability of alternative fuel infrastructure to assist American consumers who are increasingly looking to buy automobiles that can run on alternative fuels such as biodiesel, E-85 ethanol, natural gas, and other such fuels.

American automakers--Ford, GM, Daimler Chrysler--alternative energy groups, and environmental organizations have all expressed to Congress that the leading hurdle to allowing consumers greater access to vehicles that run on alternative fuels is the fact that there just aren't enough refueling stations across the country.

For instance, while there are over 6 million flex-fuel vehicles nationwide that can run on either gasoline or E-85 ethanol, less than 1 percent of all gas stations provide consumers with the option of fueling up with an alternative fuel that is American made, cleaner for the environment, and reduces our Nation's overreliance on foreign sources of oil.

On Monday of this week, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 355 to 9, overwhelmingly passed a bill by Congressman MIKE ROGERS from Michigan--H.R. 5534--that authorizes grants up to $30,000 for gas stations, and other eligible entities under the Clean Cities Program at the Department of Energy--including Government entities--that place in service alternative fuel infrastructure.

Subject to annual appropriations, Congressman Rogers' bill authorizes the use of penalties that are collected annually from foreign automakers who violate the CAFE standard for fuel efficiency.

This House-passed bill is currently being held at the Senate desk and Senator Salazar and I, along with Senators TALENT and HAGEL, have a substitute amendment that has the support of the majority leader and has been cleared by the chairman of the Commerce Committee. Again, I reiterate that this is simply an authorization and has no mandatory spending.

Our goal is to pass this substitute proposal by unanimous consent and send it back to the House of Representatives--which has indicated that they are prepared to pass the modified proposal so it can be enacted into law.

Mr. President, for the information of my colleagues, while the Senate is currently debating a bill to expand the availability of oil and natural gas that is located off the coast of the U.S., we shouldn't miss the opportunity to pass a modified version of the alternative fuel grant legislation that the House overwhelmingly passed earlier this week.

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