Sen. Harkin: Alternative fuel production gains momentum

Sen. Harkin: Alternative fuel production gains momentum
Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil - Council Bluffs,IA,USA
... The first point would mandate an increase in the production of ethanol and biodiesel fuels to 60 billion gallons a year by 2030. ...
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 There's momentum for more alternative fuel production, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said in Council Bluffs Friday.

Some of it is coming from unlikely sources, such as the auto industry which opposed the idea only a decade ago, he said.

"Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are all calling for more ethanol production. What a change," Harkin said to about 30 people at a gas station at South Expressway and South Omaha Bridge Road.

This past week, Harkin and Indiana Republican Sen. Dick Lugar introduced "an aggressive plan" for developing more alternative fuels and making it more available to consumers, Harkin said.

The legislation consists of three main points, he said.

The first point would mandate an increase in the production of ethanol and biodiesel fuels to 60 billion gallons a year by 2030.

The second point would call for the increase in the number of gasoline stations that carry E85 fuel, which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent regular fuel. Harkin proposes requiring large oil companies to install E85 pumps at their stations, increasing by 5 percent annually over the next 10 years. That would result in half of the nation's branded gasoline stations having E85 pumps.

The last point would direct automakers to gradually increase flex-fuel vehicle production until nearly all vehicles sold in this country would be flex-fuel capable, he said. Only about 2 percent of the vehicles on the road today have that capability, he added.

"It's an aggressive plan, but doable," Harkin said.